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HENRY  ONJPERDONK. 

Henry  Onderdonk,  jr.,  one  of  the   oldest  and  j 
best  kuown  residents  of    Queeas    County,    N.    Y.,    died  I 
saddenly  at  liis  home  in  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  on  Tuesday  nlghtd 
of  heart  disease.    Hewas  baru  at  the  old  family    liome-§ 
stead  at  IVlanhasset,  L.  L,  la    1804.    From    ills    earliest^ 
years  he  was  devoted  to  antiquarian  research.    He  was  I 
educated  at  Columbia  College,  whore  he  was  graduated 
in  1827,  and  at  the  University  of    CamOridge.    He    was 
best  known  as  a  local  historian,    having   written    many 
works  upon  the  history  of  New-York  and   Long    Island,   i 
Among  his  best  known  books  are  "Revolutiouary  Inci- 
dents of  Queens  County,"  ••Biblioerapby  of  Long  Island,"  ' 
"  Rise  and  Growth  of   Friends  on    Long  Island    and    in   ' 
New-York,"  "History  of  Queens  County,"  and  "Queens 
County  in  Olden  Times."     For  over  thirty  years  he  was 
professor  of  classics  In  Union  Hall  Academy  at  lamaica. 
He  was  one  of  the  fifth  generation  in  direct  descent  from  j 
Adrian  A-  Onderdonk,  who    emigrated     from    Holland  i 
and  settled  in  Flatbush  in  1672.  A 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


In  the  course  of  the  year  there  will,  probably,  be 
published  a  second  volume,  entitled,  the  Revolutionary 
Incidents  of  Suffolk  and  Kings  Counties,  with  an  ex- 
tended account  of  the  Battle  of  Brooklyn,  the  prison 
ships  at  the  Walleboght,  the  whale  boat  warfare,  and  the 
illicit  trade  in  Long  Island  Sound.  Any  information  will 
be  thankfully  received  and  duly  acknowledged. 


DOCUMENTS  AND  LETTERS 


INTENDED  TO  ILLUSTRATE 


THE 


REVOLUTIONARY  INCIDENTS 


OF 


QUEENS  COUNTY; 


CONNECTING   NARRATIVES,    EXPLANATORY 


HENRY   ONDERDONK,  Jr. 


Posterity  delights  m   details    ' — J    Q    Adams 


NEW-YORK: 
LEAVITT,  TROW  AND  COMPANY 

194    BROADWAY. 

1846. 


^ 


TO   THE 

INHABITANTS  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY,, 

DESCENDANTS    OF    THOSE  WHO    LIVED    H2BE    DURING  THE  8TORUT  PERIOD  OF 

THE    REVOLUTION, 

THIS    ATTEMPT   TO    RESCUE    FROM    OBLIVION 

THE    HISTORY    OF    THE    OriNIONS,   DEEDS,   AND   SUFFERINGS, 

OF   OUR    COMMON  ANCESTRY, 

£s    respectfullij    Knscrifaeli, 

BT    THEIR 

FELLOW-CITIZEN. 


PREFACE. 

The  present  work  is  not  a  history,  but  rather  a  con- 
tribution towards  a  history,  of  Queens  County  during 
the  Revolution.  The  materials  are  derived  from  the  fol- 
lowing sources : 

I.  The  printed  Journals  of  the  Continental  and  New- 
York  Provincial  Congresses  ;  and  the  MS.  Journal,  Let- 
ters and  Papers  of  the  N.  Y.  Provincial  Congress. 

II.  The  military  papers  of  Col.  John  Sands  and 
Major  Richard  Thome,  kindly  loaned  me  by  T.  W. 
Smith  and  J.  W.  Thome,  respectively. 

III.  Force's  American  Archives,  Almon's  Remem- 
brancer and  Parliamentary  Register,  Gentleman's  Mag- 
azine, and  the  Brodhead  Documents. 

IV.  Rivington's  Gazette,  Gaine's  Mercury,  Holt's 
Journal,  Loudon's  Packet,  Hartford  Courant,  New  Haven 
Joumal,  New  London  Gazette,  New  Jersey  Gazette, 
Kollock's  New- York  Gazetteer. 

V.  Sparks's  Writings  of  Washington,  Graydon's  Me- 
moirs, Hinman's  Connecticut,  Simcoe's  Journal,  Gaine's 
Almanac    and    Register,    Thompson's    Long     Island, 


FKEFACE. 


Strong's  Flatbush,  Dunlap's  Works,  Haliburton's  Nova 
Scotia. 

VI.  Conversations  with  aged  people  of  Queens 
County. 

Many  thanks  are  due  to  G.  C.  SchaefFer,  of  Columbia 
College  Library  ;  to  Geo.  H.  Moore,  of  the  Historical 
Rooms,  New- York  ;  to  S.  F.  Haven,  of  Antiquarian  Hall, 
Worcester  ;  to  E.  C.  Herrick,  of  Yale  College  Library  ; 
and  to  Messrs.  Robbins,  Brinley  and  Parsons,  of  the 
Connecticut  Historical  Society,  for  their  courtesy  in  lay- 
ing open  the  treasures  of  their  respective  libraries  ;  and 
also  to  Gen.  Johnson,  B.  F.  Thompson,  the  Historian  of 
Long  Island,  the  Rev.  John  Goldsmith,  Rev.  J.  B.  Felt, 
Dr.  E.  Seely,  and  H.  Floyd  Jones,  for  sundry  communi- 
cations. 

As  this  work  is  necessarily  imperfect,  the  author 
would  feel  under  obligations  to  any  one  who  will  take 
the  trouble  to  send  him  any  corrections,  or  point  out 
other  sources  of  information. 

Jamaica,  L.  I.,  May  1,  1S46. 


CONTENTS. 


(A  star  is  prefixed  to  papers  never  before  published.) 
PART    I. 
rise  and  progress  of  the  revolutionary  spirit. 
Sec. 

1  Resolutions  at  Oyster  Bay,  on  the  passage  of  the  Stamp  Act. 

2.  Meeting  at  Jamaica  and  election  of  a  Committee. 

3.  Address  of  Jamaica  Committee  to  Delegates  in  Congress. 

4.  Protest  of  Jamaica  Loyalists  against  Committees. 

5.  Committee  of  seventeen  chosen  at  Newtown. 

6.  Resolutions  passed  by  the  Committee  at  Newtown. 

7.  Protest  of  Newtown  Loyalists. 

8.  Meeting  at  Oyster  Bay. 

9.  Committee  chosen  at  Flushing. 

10.  Poetry  picked  up  in  Queens  County. 

11.  A  Provincial  Convention  to  be  held. 

12.  Vote  of  Jamaica. 
1.3.  Vote  of  Newtown. 

14.  Hempstead  Resolutions. 

15.  Vote  of  Flushing. 

16.  *Vote  of  Oyster  Bay. 

17.  *Certificate  of  Minority  at  Oyster  Bay. 

18.  Queens  County  has  no  vole  in  Convention. 

19.  A  Provincial  Congress  to  be  held. 

20.  Lieutenant  Governor  Colden  addressed  at  Jamaica. 

21.  *Protest  of  Oyster  Bay  Justices. 

22.  Election  of  Deputies  in  Queens  County. 

23.  Congress  opened  with  daiily  prayers. 

24.  List  of  Committee  Men  in  Queens  County. 

25.  *Form  of  Association. 

26.  Congress  consider  the  state  of  Queens  County. 

27.  Congress  order  Members  from  Queens  to  take  their  seats. 


10  CONTENTS. 

Sec. 

28.  Congress  appoint  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer. 

29.  1  cwt.  of  gunpowder  voted  Joseph  Robinson. 

30.  *A.  Lawrence  and  G.  Bethune  examined. 

31.  Arms  impressed  from  Non-Associators. 

32.  *List  of  Jamaica  Minute  Men. 

33.  Cow  and  Great  Neck  separate  from  Hempstead. 

34.  Vote  of  Queens  County  for  Deputies. 

35.  The  Asia  supplies  arms,  &c.,  to  the  disaffected. 

36.  Resolutions  of  Congress  against  Queens  County. 

37.  Continental  Congress  order  delinquents  to  be  disarmed. 

38.  Col.  Heard's  Expedition  into  Queens  County. 

39.  *Evidence  against  one  of  the  disaffected. 

40.  Congress  order  Queens  County  to  be  regimented. 

41.  Expedition  of  Ward  and  Seers  in  Queens  County. 

42.  Guard  stationed  at  Rockaway. 

43.  Disaffected  not  to  move  into  Cow  and  Great  Neck. 

44.  A  delinquent  at  Cow  Neck  advertised, 

45.  Arms  of  Non-Associators  to  be  given  to  recruits. 

46.  Association  of  forty  Jamaica  MihtiaMen. 

47.  British  pilot  boat  taken  at  Rockaway. 

48.  Petition  of  twelve  disarmed  Jamaica  Militia  Men. 

49.  Election  of  Deputies  in  Queens  County, 

50.  Jamaica  Committee  revived. 

51.  Disobedience  in  Capt.  Sands's  Company, 

52.  "^List  of  the  Militia  of  Cow  and  Great  Neck. 

53.  Currency  counterfeited  at  Cold  Spring. 

54.  *List  of  Militia  Companies  in  Queens. 

55.  Congress  order  able-bodied  citizens  to  return  to  New- York. 

56.  Disaffected  not  to  move  into  or  pass  through  Jamaica, 

57.  Jamaica  Committee  send  a  delinquent  to  New-York, 

58.  Congress  vote  gunpowder  to  Jamaica  Militia, 

59.  Newtown  boys  raise  the  King's  standard, 

60.  *Procecdings  against  the  disaffected  of  Queens. 

61.  Congress  vote  jCIOO  and  1  cwt.  powder  to  Queens  County, 

62.  *Gen.  Scott  orders  Queens  County  drafts  to  New- York. 

63.  *Defaulting  Militia  hunted  in  the  swamps, 

64.  ^Information  respecting  certain  persons  at  Jamaica. 

65.  *Swamp  fight  in  Hempstead. 

66.  *Queens  County  Committee  apply  for  500  troops, 

67.  *  Warrant  to  search  for  arms  at  Hempstead. 


CONTENTS.  11 

Sec. 

68.  Washington  sends  a  party  after  the  disaffected. 

69.  *List  of  prisoners  sent  from  Hempstead. 

70.  Election  of  Deputies  in  Queens  County. 

71.  Election  of  Militia  Officers  at  Cow  Neck. 

72.  Election  of  a  Militia  Officer  at  Jamaica. 

73.  *Stock  to  be  removed  from  South  Side  of  Queens  County, 

74.  *A11  secreted  persons  to  be  apprehended. 

75.  Congress  approve  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

76.  *Boats  hauled  up  at  Hog  Island. 

77.  Congress  vote  10,000  cartridges  and  1,000  flints  to  Queens  County. 

78.  Congress  vote  ^10  bounty  to  recruits. 

79.  ^Report  on  the  state  of  Stock  in  Queens  County. 

80.  *Militia  drafted  to  drive  off  the  Stock. 

81.  List  of  Officers  of  drafted  troops. 

82.  *Gen.  WoodhuU's  Letters  to  Queens  County  Militia. 

83.  *List  of  Recruits  in  Queens  County. 

84.  *Congress  grant  money  to  Queens  County. 

85.  Officers  of  Jamaica  Minute  Company. 

86.  Howe's  Declaration  posted  in  Queens  County. 

87.  *Col.  Birdsall  ordered  to  Rockaway. 

88.  *Defaulters  hide  in  Massapequa  Swamp. 

89.  *Lieut.  J.  Townsend  stationed  at  Matinecock. 

90.  *Sergeant  Manee  stationed  at  Sands's  Point. 

91.  *Sergeant  Hicks  stationed  at  Hewlett's  Point. 

92.  *Warrant  to  take  security  for  removal  of  Stock. 

93.  *Gen.  Greene  orders  the  new  Levies  to  his  Camp. 

94.  Half  the  militia  of  Queens  ordered  to  Brooklyn. 

95.  Congress  vote  £200  to  Flushing  for  support  of  fugitives  from  N.Y. 

96.  *List  of  Capt.  Nostrand's  men  stationed  at  Rockaway. 

97.  Capt.  Suydam  seizes  a  boat  at  Rockaway. 

98.  *List  of  Officers  of  Col.  Smith's  Regiment. 

99.  Congress  order  Gen.  Woodhull  to  drive  off  Stock. 

100.  Woodhull  writes  to  Congress  for  assistance. 

101.  The  enemy's  ships  off  Great  Neck. 

102.  Queens  County  Militia  recross  to  Long  Island. 

103.  *Pay  Rolls  of  Queens  County  Militia. 

104.  British  Arrpy  march  to  Newtown. 

105.  British  erect  a  Fort  at  Plell-Gate. 

106.  British  embark  at  Newtown  Creek  and  land  at  Kip's  Bay. 

107.  British  Officers  quartered  at  Newtown. 


12  CONTENTS. 

PART    II. 

seizure  of  whigs. 
Sec. 

108.  British  Light-Horse  enter  Newtown. 

109.  do.  do.  Flushing. 

110.  The  Highlanders  at  Flushing. 

111.  The  Light-Horse  seize  WoodhuU  at  Jamaica. 

112.  WoodhuU's  dying  declaration. 

113.  Elias  Bayles,  of  Jamaica,  carried  off. 

114.  Other  Whigs  of  Jamaica  seized. 

115.  Light-Horse  enter  North  Hempstead. 

116.  do.  visit  Col.  Sands's  house. 

117.  do.  carry  off  Adrian  Onderdonk. 

118.  do.  do.       Major  Thorne. 

119.  Oyster  Bay  Committee  break  up. 

120.  Kings  County  Light-Horse  cross  the  Sound. 

121.  Ministerial  Troops  at  Oyster  Bay. 

122.  George  Townsend  and  John  Kirk  carried  off. 

PART   III. 

PETITION  AND  REPRESENTATION  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 

123.  List  of  1293  Petitioners. 

124.  Gov.  Tryon  reviews  the  Militia  of  Queens  County. 

PART    IV. 

ARMED  OCCUPATION. 

125 — 167.  Incidents  at  Newtown. 

168 — 211.  Incidents  at  Flushing. 

212 — 288  Incidents  at  Jamaica. 

289 — 337.  Incidents  at  North  Hempstead. 

338 — 367.  Incidents  at  Hempstead. 

368 — 430.  Incidents  at  Oyster  Bay. 

431 — 480.  British  Proclamations  relating  to  Queens  County. 

481 — 519.  List  of  Troops  that  lay  in  Queens  County. 

PART    V. 

CONCLUSION. 

520 — 521.     Evacuation  of  Queens  County. 
522 — 525.     Emigration  to  Nova  Scotia. 
526.     Celebration  of  the  Peace. 
527 — 530.     Suits  against  Loyalists. 
531.     Tax  laid  on  Queens  County. 


REVOLUTIONARY  INCIDENTS 

OF 

aUEENS  COUNTY. 


PART  I. 

RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF    THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 

1.  On  the  passage  of  the  Stamp  Act,  the  following  pro- 
ceedings took  place  in  Queens  county  : 

To  the  Committee  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty  in  New -York  : 

Gentlemen  : — By  order  of  a  Committee  of  the  Sons  of 
Liberty  in  Oyster  Bay,  we  are  to  acquaint  you,  that  at  a 
meeting  of  the  inhabitants,  on  Saturday,  February  22,  1766, 
it  was  unanimously  agreed  and  resolved — 

I.  That  the  person,  crown  and  dignity  of  our  rightful  sove- 
reign, King  George  III.,  with  all  his  just  and  legal  rights  of 
government,  we  will,  to  the  utmost  of  our  power,  support, 
maintain,  and  defend. 

II.  That  the  liberties  and  privileges,  which  we  as  English- 
men have  still  enjoyed,  particularly  those  of  being  taxed  by 
representatives  of  our  own  choosing,  and  being  tried  by  our 
own  juries,  we  will  also  support,  maintain,  and  defend. 

III.  That  the  late  Stamp  Act  is  destructive  of  these  our 
liberties,  and  is  by  us  deemed  to  be  arbitrary  and  'inconstitu- 
tional ;  that  as  such,  we  will,  to  the  utmost  of  our  power,  en- 
deavor to  oppose  and  suppress  the  same. 

2 


4 

14  RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 

IV.  That  the  measures  which  you  have  taken,  and  the 
several  noble  efforts  you  have  made,  in  vindication  of  the 
general  cause  of  liberty,  we  do  heartily  approve  of,  and  that 
with  our  lives  and  fortunes,  we  stand  ready  to  assist  you  in  the 
same. 

V.  That  the  Committee  now  chosen,  do  signify  these  our 
resolutions  to  the  Sons  of  Liberty  at  New- York  and  else- 
where, as  they  may  think  proper;  that  the  said  Committee  do 
for  the  future  keep  up  appointed  meetings,  as  may  be  thought 
necessary,  at  the  house  of  George  Weekes,  in  Oyster  Bay,  and 
maintain  a  correspondence  with  your  Committee,  in  which  we 
expect  your  concurrence. — Holt^  March  6,  1766. 

The  Stamp  Act  was  soon  repealed,  and  we  hear  no  more 
of  public  meetings  in  Queens  county,  till  the  passage  of  the 
Boston  Port  Bill,  when  a  number  of  persons  assembled  at  the 
inn  of  Increase  Carpenter,  and  requested  Othniel  Smith, 
constable,  to  warn  the  freeholders  to  meet  at  the  Court  House, 
to  take  into  consideration  the  state  of  public  affairs. 

2.  At  a  Town  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  Inhabit- 
ants of  Jamaica,  held  in  the  Court  House,  on  Tuesday,  the 
6th  of  December,  1774  : 

Resolved^  1.  That  by  principle  and  interest  we  have  been 
always  heartily  attached  to  the  Royal  House  of  Hanover,  as 
the  guardians  of  the  civil  and  religious  liberties  of  the  whole 
British  Empire ;  and  that  we  esteem  it  our  duty  to  render  true 
and  faithful  allegiance  to  George  the  Third,  King  of  Great 
Britain,  as  our  only  rightful  sovereign  ;  and  to  support  and 
maintain  the  just  dependence  of  the  colonies  upon  the  Crown 
of  Great  Britain,  under  the  enjoyment  of  our  constitutional 
rights  and  privileges. 

JResolved,  2.  That  it  is  our  undoubted  right  to  be  taxed  only 
by  our  own  consent,  given  by  ourselves  or  our  Representatives; 
and  that  all  acts  made  by  the  British  Parliament,  imposing 
taxes  on  the  Colonics,  are  unjust,  unconstitutional,  and  a  mani- 
fest infringement  of  our  dearest  and  most  invaluable  privileges. 

Resolved,  3.  That  we  have  esteemed  it  our  greatest  civil 
happiness  and  glory  to  have  been  born  subjects  to  tlie  Crown, 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  15 

and  members  of  society  under  the  most  excellent  Constitution 
of  Great  Britain  ;  that  we  regard  ourselves  as  one  people  with 
our  mother  country,  connected  together  by  the  strongest  ties 
of  affection,  duty,  interest  and  religion ;  and  that  we  lament  as 
the  greatest  misfortune  *  *  the  unhappy  disputes  that  have  of 
late  years  subsisted  between  us.  *  *  * 

Resolved,  5.  That  we  heartily  sympathize  with  our  brethren 
of  Boston  and  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  under  their  present  un- 
exampled sufferings ;  and  that  we  regard  the  Acts  of  Parlia- 
ment, under  which  they  now  groan,  as  cruel,  unjust,  unconsti- 
tutional, and  oppressive  in  the  highest  degree,  levelled  not 
only  at  them  in  particular,  but  at  the  liberties  of  the  other  Co- 
lonies, and  the  British  Empire  in  general.  *  * 

Resolved,  6.  That  ^ve  do  most  gratefully  acknowledge  the 
difficult  and  important  services  rendered  to  their  country,  by 
the  late  General  Congress,  held  at  Philadelphia,  and  that  we 
do  highly  approve  of  the  measures  by  them  concerted  for  the 
public  good  of  their  constituents,  and  that  we  will  use  all  pru- 
dent and  constitutional  endeavors  to  carry  those  measures  into 
execution. 

Resolved,   7.    That  we  do  appoint  for  our  Committee   of 
Correspondence  and  Observation,  the  following  gentlemen,  viz  : 
Rev.  Abm.  Keteltas,       Capt.  Richard  Belts,       Mr.  Waters  Smith, 
Dr.  John  Innes,  Cnpt.  Ephraim  Bayley,  Mr.  Joseph  Robinson, 

Capt.  Joseph  French,      Mr.  Elias  Bayley,  Mr.  William  Ludlum.* 

Resolved,  8.  That  this  Committee  do,  in  our  names,  present 
an  address  of  sincere  and  hearty  thanks  to  the  worthy  Dele- 
gates of  this  Province,  for  their  cheerful  acceptance  and  faith- 
ful discharge  of  the  arduous  and  important  trusts  committed  to 
them  by  their  countrymen. 

Resolved,  9.  That  this  meeting  have  as  heartily  approved 
of,  and  always  been  as  ready  to  promote  every  prudent  and 
constitutional  measure  for  the  redress  of  grievances,  and  the 
preservation  of  those  invaluable  liberties  which  have  been  in- 
fringed by  the  British  Ministry  and  Parliament,  as  any  of  their 
brethren,  and  that  it  is  not  their  fault  that  they  were  not  sooner 
convenedt  for  this  important  purpose  ;  and  that  they  do  highly 
resent  and  heartily  disapprove  of  the  conduct  of  the  super- 


16  RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 

visor,:}:  and  any  other  person,  by  whose  backwardness,  igno- 
rance, neghgence,  or  remissness,  this  meeting  has  been  so  long 
delayed. —  Gaine,  Dec.  19,  '74. 

*  Two  of  the  Committee  declined  serving:  one  was  absent,  and  one 
left  them  in  their  meditations. 

t  Lieut.  Gov.  Colden  to  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  Oct.  5,  1774: 
"  A  great  deal  of  pains  has  been  taken  to  persuade  the  counties  to 
choose  delegates  for  the  Congress,  or  to  adopt  those  sent  by  the  city  of  New- 
York.  Several  counties  have  refused.  In  Queens  county,  where  I  have 
a  house,  and  reside  in  the  summer  season,  six  persons  have  not  been  got 
to  meet  for  the  purpose,  and  the  inhabitants  remain  firm  in  their  resolu- 
tion not  to  join  in  the  Congress." 

X  "  The  supervisor,  Capt.  Benjamin  "Whitehead,  had  received  a  letter 
from  the  New-York  Committee,  but  on  consulting  with  the  leading  men 
of  the  town,  he  concluded  to  take  no  notice  of  it." 

3.  January  19th,  1775.  Address  from  the  Committee  of 
Correspondence  of  the  Township  of  Jamaica,  presented  to  the 
Delegates  who  represented  this  Province  in  the  late  General 
Congress  : 

Gentlemen  :  We  cheerfully  embrace  this  opportunity  of 
publicly  acknowledging,  in  behalf  of  ourselves  and  our  con- 
stituents, our  most  grateful  sense  of  the  arduous,  faithful,  and 
important  services,  you  have  rendered  your  country  in  the  pre- 
sent alarming  conjunction  of  aftairs. 

Permit  us  to  declare  our  hearty  acquiescence  in  the  prudent, 
just,  and  well-concerted  measures,  adopted  by  you  at  the  last 
General  Congress,  held  at  Philadelphia,  and  to  assure  you, 
that  we  will  exert  our  utmost  endeavors  to  carry  those  mea- 
sures into  execution. 

We  ardently  pray  that  the  Supreme  Disposer  of  events  *  * 
may  signally  reward  and  succeed  your  noble  and  generous 
designs  and  efforts  for  the  redress  of  our  grievances,  and  the 
vindication  of  our  injured  rights  and  liberties. 

We  joyfully  anticipate  the  pleasure  of  seeing  your  names, 
and  the  names  of  your  very  respectable  brethren  of  tlie  Con- 
gress, enrolled  in  the  annals  of  America,  and  transmitted  to 
the  latest  generations,  as  the  friends  and  deliverers  of  your 
country ;  of  beholding  your  conduct  and  measures  applauded 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  17 

and  adopted  by  every  city,  town,  and  county,  in  the  British 
Colonies,  and  of  having  your  just  and  well  merited  praises  re- 
sounded from  one  end  of  this  extensive  continent  to  the  other. 

Gentlemen,  with  hearts  penetrated  with  unutterable  grati- 
tude, and  overflowing  with  benevolent  wishes  for  every  blessing 
on  you  and  your  posterity,  we  have  the  honor  of  being  your 
affectionate  countrymen,  and  much  obliged  humble  servants. 
By  order  of  the  Committee. 

ABRAHAM  KETELTAS,   Chairman. 

To  Philip  Livingston,  John  Jay,  Isaac  Low,  Henry  Wisner, 
James  Duane,  John  Alsop,  Simon  Boerum,  and  WiUiam 
Floyd,  Esqrs. 

4.  Jamaica,  Jan.  27,  1775.  Whereas,  a  few  people  in 
this  town  have  taken  upon  themselves  the  name  of  a  Com- 
mittee, said  to  be  chosen  by  a  majority  of  the  inhabitants,  we 
the  subscribers,  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  the  said  town- 
ship, do  think  it  our  duty  to  declare,  that  we  never  gave  our 
consent  toward  choosing  that  Committee,  or  making  any  re- 
solves, as  we  utterly  disapprove  of  all  unlawful  meetings, 
and  all  tyrannical  proceedings  whatsoever ;  and  as  we  have 
always  been,  so  it  is  our  firm  resolution  to  continue,  peace- 
able and  faithful  subjects  to  his  present  Majesty,  King  George 
the  Third,  our  most  gracious  sovereign  ;  and  we  do  further 
declare,  that  we  do  not  acknowledge  any  other  Representa- 
tives but  the  General  Assembly  of  this  Province,  by  whose 
wisdom  and  interposition  we  hope  to  obtain  the  wished  redress 
of  our  grievances  in  a  constitutional  way. 

Signed  by  L36  persons,  {names  omitted,)  91  of  whom  are 
freeholders,  and  the  others  very  respectable  inhabitants. 
There  are  not  above  160  freeholders  at  most  in  this  township. 

.5.  Newtown,  Dec.  10,  1774.  The  election  of  a  Com- 
mittee of  seventeen  persons,  for  the  purposes  mentioned  in 
the  association  entered  into  by  the  Continental  Congress, 
for  corresponding  with  the  other  Committees  of  this  Province, 
having  this  day  come  on,  pursuant  to  advertisement  of  the 


18  EISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 

supervisor,  a  great  number  of  the  most  respectable  freeholders 

assembled  at  the   Town   House,  and  the   following  persons 
were  unanimously  chosen,  viz.  : 

Jacob  Blackvvell,              Jonathan  Lawrence,  John  Alburtis, 

Richard  Alsop,  Esq.,      Samuel  Moore,  Abm.  Brinckerhoff, 

Daniel  Rapalje,  Esq.,      William  Fnrman,  James  Way, 

Philip  Edsall,                   William  Howard,  Samuel  Morrell, 

Thomas  Lawrence,         Jeromus  Remsen,  Jonathan  Coe. 
Daniel  Lawrence,           Samuel  Riker, 

6.  This  Committee  did  not  meet  till  December  29th, 
(owing  to  the  small-pox  in  Col.  Blackwell's  family,)  when 
*'  having  seriously  considered  the  consequences  that  must 
evidently  flow  from  the  several  acts  of  the  British  Parlia- 
ment to  raise  revenue  in  America,  and  likewise  that  of 
having  power  to  bind  the  people  of  these  Colonies  by  statute 
in  all  cases  whatsoever  ;  and  that  of  extending  the  limits  of 
the  Admiralty  Court,  whereby  the  judges  are  empowered  to 
receive  their  salaries  and  fees  from  effects  to  be  condemned 
by  themselves,  and  his  Majesty's  American  subjects  deprived 
of  the  right  of  trial  by  jury  ;  that  of  empowering  the  Com- 
missioners of  Customs  to  break  open  and  enter  houses,  with- 
out authority  of  any  civil  magistrate  ;  stopping  the  Port  of 
Boston  ;  changing  the  form  of  government  in  Massachusetts 
Bay;  and  the  Quebec  Bill:'  all  which,  as  appears  to  us, 
are  absolutely  intended  to  deprive  his  Majesty's  most  dutiful 
and  loyal  subjects  of  the  American  Colonies  of  their  most 
inestimable  rights  and  privileges,  by  subjugating  them  to  the 
British  Parliament,  and  driving  them  to  the  dire  necessity  of 
having  their  property  taken  from  them  without  their  consent : 

Resolved,  L  That  we  consider  it  our  greatest  happiness  and 
glory  to  be  governed  by  the  illu.strious  House  of  Hanover,  and 
that  we  acknowledge  and  bear  true  allegiance  to  King  George 
the  Third  as  our  rightful  sovereign,  and  under  his  protection 
have  a  right  to  enjoy  the  privileges  of  tlie  Constitution  of 
Great  Britain. 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  19 

2.  That  man  ought  to  have  the  disposition  of  his  property, 
either  by  himself  or  his  representatives. 

3.  That  it  is  our  indispensable  duty  to  transmit  unimpaired 
to  posterity  all  our  most  valuable  rights  and  privileges  as  we 
have  received  them  from  our  ancestors — particularly  that  of 
disposing  of  our  own  property. 

4.  That  as  some  mode  of  opposition  to  the  Acts  of  Parlia- 
ment imposing  taxes  in  America,  has  been  thought  necessary 
by  the  inhabitants  of  the  different  Colonies  on  this  Continent, 
to  secure  their  invaded  rights  and  properties  :  which  mode  has 
been  left  to  the  determination  of  the  Delegates  sent  by  each 
Colony,  and  met  in  Congress,  at  Philadelphia,  in  September 
last:  they  having,  among  other  articles  of  their  association,'*  re- 
commended that  a  committee  be  chosen  in  every  county,  city, 
and  town,  whose  business  it  should  be  to  observe  the  conduct  of 
all  persons  touching  said  association  ;  and,  as  we  are  willing  to 
establish  harmony  and  union,  we  will,  so  far  as  our  influence 
extends,  endeavor  that  the  measures  of  Congress  be  strictly 
adhered  to  in  this  town. 

5.  As  we  highly  approve  of  the  wise,  prudent,  and  consti- 
tutional mode  of  opposition  adopted  by  our  worthy  Delegates 
in  the  General  Congress,  to  the  several  late  tyrannical  and  op- 
pressive acts  of  the  British  Parliament,  we  therefore  render  our 
mo.st  sincere  and  hearty  thanks  to  those  gentlemen  for  their  pa- 
triotic spirit  in  so  cheerfully  undertaking  the  difficult  and  ar- 
duous task,  for  their  faithfulness  in  council,  and  great  wisdom 
in  drawing  conclusions,  which,  through  the  influence  of  Divine 
Providence,  we  trust  will  be  the  means  of  securing  to  us  oi 
liberty  and  privileges  as  freeborn  Englishmen,  and  again  re 
store  harmony  and  confidence  throughout  the  British  Empire, 
which  is  the  hearty  wish  of  all  the  friends  to  liberty  and  foes 
to  oppression. 

Signed  by  order  of  the  Committee, 

JACOB  BLACKWELL.  Chairman. 
*  The  Quebec  Bill  extended  the  limits  of  that  Province  so  as  to  border 
on  the  wesiern  frontiers  of  the  United  Colonies.  It  established  arbitrary 
government  therein,  discouraged  the  settlement  of  British  subjects,  so 
that  by  the  influence  of  civil  principles  and  ancient  prejudices,  the  Catholic 
population  might  not  unite  with  the  free  Protestant  Colonies. 


20  RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 

'  By  this  Association,  signed  Oct.  20,  1774,  the  members  of  Congress 
pledged  themselves  not  to  import  or  consume  tea,  or  any  articles  from  the 
British  Possessions,  until  the  revenue  acts  of  Parliament  were  repealed. 
They  also  recommended  that  a  committee  be  chosen  in  every  county, 
city,  and  town,  to  observe  the  conduct  of  all  persons  touching  this  Asso- 
ciation. 

7.  Newto2vn,  Jan.  12, 1775.  We,  the  subscribers,  were 
no  way  concerned  in  certain  resolves  signed  by  Jacob  Black- 
well,  Chairman,  entered  into  by  some  inhabitants  of  New- 
town, approving  the  proceedings  of  the  Continental  Congress  ; 
neither  do  we  acknowledge  any  other  representatives  but  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  Province. 

Signed  by  58  persons,  (names  omitted.) 

Oyster  Bay,  Dec.  30,  1774. 

8.  "  In  December,  1774,  there  was  a  notification,  signed 
by  several  of  the  principal  freeholders,  and  set  up  in  differ- 
ent parts  of  Oyster  Bay,  requesting  the  freeholders  to  meet 
at  George  Weekes',  on  the  30th,  to  take  into  consideration 
the  resolves  of  the  Continental  Congress. 

"  On  that  day,  a  number  of  freeholders  appearing,  they 
made  choice  of  Samuel  Townsend,  Town  Clerk,  for  Mode- 
rator. A  motion  was  then  made  for  taking  into  consideration 
the  resolves  of  the  Continental  Congress  ;  and  there  being 
present  but  a  small  part  of  the  freeholders,  the  meeting  was 
adjourned  to  the  annual  town  meeting." — O.  B.  Records. 

At  a  meeting  for  choosing  a  committee  for  Oyster  Bay,  December  30, 
1774,  about  ninety  freeholders  assembled  to  take  into  consideration  the 
present  unhappy  dispute  between  the  mother  country  and  her  colonies  ; 
when  there  appeared  such  a  number  of  friends  to  our  happy,  regular,  es- 
tablished government,  under  the  Crown  and  Parliament  of  (Ireat  Britain, 
as  to  deem  that  meeting  illegal  and  void,  and  that  no  business  could  with 
propriety  be  done ;  and  the  meeting  was  adjourned  till  a  future  time, 
when  it  is  hoped  it  will  be  so  conducted  as  to  convince  the  world  that 
his  Majesty  is  not  without  friends  here  who  will  support  his  government. 

The  resolutions  of  the  Congress  were  publicly  read ;  after  which, 
Justice exerted  himself  with  that  prudence  and  firmness  becoming 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  21 

a  magistrate,  by  arguing  the  impropriety  and  illegality  of  such  meetings, 
in  so  masterly  a  manner,  as  to  have  the  desired  effect  of  preventhig  any 
business  being  done  till  the  legal  day  of  calling  town  meeting,  on  the  1st 
Tuesday  in  April.  SPECTATOR. 

9.  Flushing,  Jan.  14,  1775.  "  There  was  a  funeral  in 
this  town  about  a  fortnight  ago,  which  afforded  three  or  four 
of  the  furious  '  sons  of  liberty'  an  opportunity  of  selecting 
as  many  out  of  the  number  who  attended  the  funeral  as 
would  suit  their  purpose,  which  was  twenty-five,  one-seventh 
of  the  freeholders  of  the  town.  Twelve  of  these  were  im- 
mediately dubbed  Committee  Men;  but' by  the  authority  of 
a  single  man,  who  is  a  friend  to  order  and  good  government, 
they  were  constrained  from  entering  on  any  business  relating 
to  their  office,  till  the  sentiments  of  all  the  freeholders  were 
taken  upon  it ;  which,  when  executed,  will  certainly  put  an 
end  to  their  political  existence,  as  it  is  well  known  the  in- 
habitants are  generally  against  it." — No.  92,  Riv.  Gaz. 

10.  Poetry  picked  up  in  the  loyal  circle  of  Queens 
county : 

O  TEMPORA!     O  MORES! 
Could  I  the  abundance  of  my  sorrow  show, 
I'd  write  in  blood  my  tale  of  sympathetic  woe  j 
In  blood  of  villain-*,  who,  to  sh.iw  their  hate 
Of  kingly  rule,  try  \o  unhinge  the  state. 
Tarring  and  feath'ring  is  the  destined  fate 
Of  every  loyal  subject  of  the  state  : 
They'll  advertise  each  patriot,  fix  his  doom, 
Then  come  proscriptions  like  to  ancient  Rome. 
True  sons  of  Catiline  !  like  his  your  cause — 
Insult  the  government !  despise  its  laws  ! 
A  piteous  case  !     It  makes  my  bosom  throb 
To  hear  the  mandates  of  this  lawless  mob. 
Sound  the  loud  clarion,  sound, 
Tell  the  Committee  all  an.und, 

The  Quaker's  Idood  cries  '  vengeance"  from  the  ground. 
Thou  Boston  too,  that's  covered  o'ur  with  guilt. 
Thy  sons  shall  pay  for  blood  thy  impious  sires  have  spilt. 
Thy  venal  priests  inflame  the  people's  breast — 
These  holy  cheats  !  a  nuisance  and  a  pest ! 
I'll  say  no  more  ;  but  may  the  Fates  engage 
To  flop  the  growth  of  independent  rage; 

2* 


22 


RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OP 


Prevent  the  projects  of  such  factious  brains, 
And  send  them  timely  wliere  their  Leader  reigns. 

(Signed)  NO  YANKEE. 

P.  S.    I  fret,  [  slorm,  I  spit,  I  spew 

At  sound  of  Yankee  Doodle  doo.  Jan.  1775. 

11.  The  New-York  Committee,  March  16th,  1775,  sent 
circular  letters  to  the  different  counties  in  the  colony,  re- 
questing them  to  choose  deputies  to  a  Provincial  Conven- 
tion, which  was  to  meet,  April  20,  for  the  purpose  of  electing 
delegates  to  the  Continental  Congress,  to  be  held  at  Phila- 
delphia, May  10. 

In  Queens  county,  the  election  was  held  by  towns. 

Friday,  March  31,  1775. 
12.  This  being  the  day  appointed  for  taking  the  sense  of 
the  freeholders  of  the  town  of  Jamaica,  whether  they  would 
nominate  a  Deputy,  a  poll  was  opened,  when  the  votes  taken 
stood  as  follows  : 

Against  a  Deputy,  94, 
For  a  Deputy,  85,  viz.  : 

Nehemiah  Everitt, 


Capt.  Rutgers, 
John  Skitlmore, 
Robert  Hinchman, 
Waters  Smith, 
William  Ludlum, 
Rev.  Abm.  Keteltas, 
Jonas  Frederick, 
William  Steed, 
John  Mills, 
Isaac  Bayley, 
Increas  •  Carpenter, 
John  Cockle, 
Isaac  Hendrickson, 
John  Innes,  Sr., 
Elias  Bayley, 
Aaron  Hendrickson, 
Robert  Denton; 
John  Smith, 
Jacob  Wright, 
Nicholas  Smith,  Sr., 


Isaac  Roads, 
John  Roads, 
Jonah  Roads, 
Hope  Roads, 
Richard  Roads, 
Thomas  Denton, 
Benjamin  Everett, 
John  V^an  Lew, 
Benjamin  Creed, 
Isaac  Mills, 
Nicholas  Smith,  Jr., 


J.  Hendrickson, 
Joseph  Higby, 
Andrew  Oakley, 
Moses  Higby, 
Jacob  Foster, 
Daniel  Ludlum, 
Samuel  Higby,  Cooper, 
Cornelius  Losee, 
Daniel  Smith, 
Samuel  Higby,  Jr., 


Benjamin   Hinchman,     Jonathan  Thurston, 


David  Lambertson, 
Nathaniel  Box, 
William  Creed,  Jr., 
A.  Hendrickson, 
A.  Hendrickson,  Jr., 
Whitehead  Skidmore, 
Christopher  Rider, 
Amos  Denton, 


Nathaniel  Smith, 
Ephraim  Marston, 
Othniel  Smith, 
Samuel  Smith, 
William  Creed, 
Nehemiah  Carpenter, 
John  Skidmore,  Jr., 
Ephraim  Bayley, 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 


23 


William  Messenger, 
Nicholas  Everett, 
Peter  Smith, 
John  Brimner, 
Daniel  Tuthill, 


Samuel  Skidmore, 
Noah  Smith, 
Daniel  Bayley, 
Wait  Smith, 
John  Thurston, 


Obadiah  Smith, 
Jacob  Carpenter, 
Joshua  Carpenter, 
John  Messenger, 
Joseph  Robinson, 
Thomas  Wiggins, 
Jacob  Duryea — 85. 


Hend'k  Hendrickson,  Sr.Samuel  Messenger, 
Daniel  Everitt,  John  J.  Skidmore, 

John  Brush,  Jaques  Johnson, 

13.  Col.  Jacob  Blackwell  was  elected  Deputy  from  New- 
town by  100  freeholders,  being  all  who  did  poll,  viz. : 


Abm.  March, 
Samuel  Burtis, 
Edward  Howard, 
Philip  Edsall,  Esq., 
James  Way, 
John  Shannan, 
William  Furman, 
Peter  Riker, 
Richard  Lawrence, 
Ludlam  Heirs, 
Elnathan  Leverich, 
Benjamin  Coe, 
John  Culver, 
Benjamin  North, 


James  Betts, 
Edward  Titus, 
Ezekiah  Furman, 
Robert  Field, 
John  Wey,  Jr., 
Thomas  Betts, 
Benjamin  Cornish, 
John  Coe, 
Samuel  Morrell, 
Jonathan  Coe, 
Samuel  Hallet, 
Nathaniel  Pettit, 
Geo.  BrinckerhofT,  Jr. 
James  Gorsline, 


Lambert  Woodward,  Jr.,John  Gorsline, 


Cornelius  Berrian, 
Paul  Burtis, 
Jeromus  Remsen, 
John  McDonnaugh,  Jr. 
Jacob  Pearsall, 
Benjamin  Field,  Jr., 
Richard  Rapelye, 
Asher  Devine, 
William  Bayley, 
John  Wey, 
Thomas  North, 
Jonathan  Morrell, 
Jacob  Boerum, 
Benjamin  Coe,  Jr., 
Francis  Titus, 


Samuel  Edsall, 
Benjamin  Field, 
Robert  Coe, 
Rem  Remsen, 
Rev.  Simon  Horten, 
Joseph  Morrell, 
John  Pearsall, 
Jonathan  Fish, 
Samuel  Fish, 
William  Sackett, 
Samuel  Coe, 
John  Leverich  Jr., 
Christopher  Remsen, 
Jeromus  Remsen,  Jr., 
James  Burroughs, 


Samuel  Lawrence, 
Joseph  Lawrence, 
John  Fish, 
William  Lawrence, 
Luke  Remsen, 
John  Burtis, 
Samuel  Waldron, 
Thomas  Cumberson, 
Richard  Berrian, 
Philip  Edsall, 
Abm.  BrinckerhofT, 
Abm.  Riker, 
Douwe  Van  Dyne, 
Jacob  Hallett,  Jr., 
Richard  Betts, 
Philip  Woodward, 
Morris  Hazard, 
Samuel  Renney, 
Capt.  Samuel  Moore, 
Joseph  Boss, 
Gabriel  Furman, 
Capt.  Jona'n  Lawrence, 
Samuel  Riker, 
William  Howard, 
Johannis  Cornell, 
William  Van  Dyne, 
Capt.  Tho's  Lawrence, 
Capt.  Dan'l  Lawrer.ce, 
Nathaniel  Baley, 
Jonathan  Roberts, 


24  RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 

Charles  Boerum,  William  Betts,  Anthony  Betls, 

John  Burroughs,  Howard  Furman,  Jonathan  Furman, 

Stephen  Field,  Stephen  Fettit,  John  Suydam — 100. 
Thomas  Burroughs, 

14.  In  Hempstead  no  attempt  was  made  to  elect  a  deputy, 
but  the  following  resolutions  passed,  7ie7n.  con. 

Hempstead,  April  4,  1775. 

At  this  critical  time  of  public  danger  and  distraction, 
when  it  is  the  duty  of  every  honest  man  and  friend  to  his 
country  to  declare  his  sentiments  openly,  and  use  every 
endeavor  to  ward  off  the  impending  calamities  which  threaten 
this  once  happy  and  peaceful  land  :   * 

We,  the  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  Hempstead,  being 
legally  assembled  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  April,  1775,  have 
voluntarily  entered  into  the  following  resolutions : 

1st.  That  as  we  have  already  borne  true  and  faithful  alle- 
giance to  his  Majesty  King  George  the  Third,  our  gracious 
and  lawful  sovereign,  so  we  are  firmly  resolved  to  continue  in 
the  same  line  of  duty  to  him  and  his  lawful  successors. 

2d.  That  we  esteem  our  civil  and  religious  liberties  above 
any  other  blessings,  and  those  only  can  be  secured  to  us  by 
our  present  constitution  ;  we  shall  inviolably  adhere  to  it,  since 
deviating  from  it  and  introducing  innovations,  would  have  a 
direct  tendency  to  subvert  it,  from  which  the  most  ruinous 
consequences  might  justly  be  apprehended. 

3d.  That  it  is  our  ardent  desire  to  have  the  present  unnatu- 
ral contest  between  the  parent  State  and  her  Colonies  amicably 
and  speedily  accommodated  on  principles  of  constitutional 
liberty,  and  that  the  union  of  the  Colonies  with  the  parent 
State  may  subsist  till  time  shall  be  no  more. 

4th.  That  as  the  worthy  members  of  our  General  Assembly, 
who  are  our  only  legal  and  constitutional  representatives  *  * 
have  petitioned  his  most  gracious  Majesty,  sent  a  memorial  to 
the  House  of  Lords  and  a  remonstrance  to  the  House  of  Com- 
mons: we  are  determined  to  wait  patiently  the  issue  of  those 
measures,  and  avoid  every  thing  that  might  frustrate  those 
laudable  endeavors. 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  25 

5th.  That  as  choosing  Deputies  to  form  a  Provincial  Con- 
gress, or  Convention,  must  have  this  tendency,  be  highly- 
disrespectful  to  our  legal  representatives,  and  also  be  attended, 
in  all  probability,  with  the  most  pernicious  effects  in  other 
instances,  as  is  now  actually  the  case  in  some  Provinces — such 
as  shutting  up  courts  of  justice,  levying  money  on  the  subjects 
to  enlist  men  for  the  purpose  of  fighting  against  our  sovereign, 
diffusing  a  spirit  of  sedition  among  the  people,  destroying  the 
authority  of  constitutional  Assemblies,  and  otherwise  intro- 
ducing many  heavy  and  oppressive  grievances — we  therefore 
are  determined  not  to  choose  any  Deputies  [for  such  Provincial 
Congress  or  Convention],  nor  consent  to  it,  but  do  solemnly 
bear  our  testimony  against  it. 

6th.  That  we  are  utterly  averse  to  all  mobs,  riots  and  illegal 
proceedings,  by  which  the  lives,  peace  and  property  of  our 
fellow-subjects  are  endangered  :  and  that  we  will,  to  the  utmost 
of  our  power,  support  our  legal  magistrates  in  suppressing  all 
riots,  and  preserving  the  peace  of  our  liege  sovereign. 

HULET  PETERS,  Town  Clerk. 

Flushing,  Ajjril  17,  1775. 

15.  On  the  4th  of  April,  after  due  notice  had  been  given 
to  the  freeholders  of  Flushing,  at  an  annual  Town  Meeting, 
it  was  proposed  that  a  Deputy  should  be  chosen  to  represent 
said  town.  After  some  debates  the  business  was  put  to  vote, 
when  Mr.  John  Talman  was  by  a  great  majority  chosen. 

JOHN  RODMAN,   Clerk. 
STEPHEN  VAN  WYCK. 

16.  March  27,  1775,  Samuel  Townsend,  Town  Clerk, 
gave  notice  by  advertisement  in  the  following  words :  "  I 
have  received  a  letter  from  the  chairman  of  the  committee  of 
New-York,  recommending  it  to  the  freeholders  of  Oyster 
Bay  to  choose  their  Deputies  so  soon  as  that  they  may  be  at 
New-York  by  April  20th,  the  day  proposed  for  the  meeting 
of  the  Convention :  and  as  our  annual  Town  Meeting  is  so 
near  at  hand,  I  thought  it  best  previous  to  said  meeting  to 
acquaint  the  freeholders  that  I  should  lay  said  letter  before 


560  RISE   AND   PROGRESS    OF 

the  meeting,  that  in  the  interim  they  might  have  an  oppor- 
tunity of  thinking  whether  it  will  be  proper  or  not  to  chjose 
a  Deputy  on  that  day." 

At  the  annual  Town  Meeting:,  Thomas  Smith  was  chosen 
Moderator,  and  after  going  through  the  business  of  the  town, 
Samuel  Townsend  read  the  above  cited  letter  and  offered  it 
to  the  consideration  of  the  freeholders  and  inhabitants :  and 
it  was  objected  by  many  against  having  any  thing  to  do  with 
Deputies  or  Congresses,  and  insisted  by  some  to  choose  a 
Deputy.  The  Moderator  proposed  to  go  out  and  separate, 
but  it  was  objected  to  and  a  poll  demanded.  The  Town 
Clerk  wrote  down  the  votes,  and  at  the  close  of  the  poll  there 
appeared  on  the  list  for  Deputy,  42 ;  against,  205. — Oyster 
Bay  Records. 

To  the  Provincial  Convention. 

17.  Whereas,  the  unhappy  disputes  between  the  mother 
country  and  the  American  Colonies,  we  humbly  conceive, 
has  arisen  from  assumed  power,  claimed  by  the  British  Par- 
liament, to  pass  laws  binding  on  us  in  all  cases  whatsoever, 
hath  given  us  great  uneasiness ;  and  as  we  conceive  unan- 
imity among  the  inhabitants  of  the  colonies  is  the  only  means 
under  Providence  to  secure  the  essential  rights  and  liberties 
of  Englishmen,  and  in  order  that  the  inhabitants  of  the 
different  colonies  should  know  each  other's  sentiments  and 
form  general  plans  for  the  union  and  regulation  of  the  whole  : 
it  is  necessary  there  should  be  Delegates  appointed  to  meet 
in  General  Congress :  and  whereas  the  committee  of  corres- 
pondence of  New-York  did  request  the  people  of  Queens 
County  to  choose  Deputies :  In  consequence  thereof  there 
was  a  Town  Meeting  at  Oyster  Bay  on  April  4th,  for  the 
appointing  of  one  Deputy  ;  but  there  appearing  at  said 
meeting  a  majority  against  it,  yet  nevertheless,  we,  the 
subscribers,  freeholders  of  Oyster  Bay,  being  determined  to 
do  all  in  our  power  to  keep  in  unity  with  you  and  the  colo- 
nies on  the  continent,  and  desirous  of  being  in  some  measure 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 


27 


represented  at  the  General  Congress,  do  hereby  appoint 
Zebulon  Williams  as  our  Deputy,  giving  unto  him  full 
power  to  act  in  our  behalf  in  the  premises  aforesaid.  In 
confirmation  whereof  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  respec- 
tively. Oyster  Bay,  April  12,  1775. 


George  Townsend, 
Micajah  Townsend, 
William  Seaman, 
David  Laton, 
George  Bennet, 
Joseph  Carpenter, 
John  Schenck, 
Peter  Hegeman, 
James  Townsend,  Jr. 
John  Wright, 
Gilbert  Wright, 
Richard  Weeks, 
James  Townsend, 
William  Townsend, 
Prior  Townsend, 


William  Latting, 
Benjamin  Latting, 
Jos.  Thorney  Craft, 
William  Hopkins, 
Joseph  Coles, 
Albert  Albertson, 
John  Luister, 
Rem  Hegeman, 
Samson  Crooker, 
Jacobus  Luister, 
Albert  Van  Nostrand, 
Jotham  Townsend, 
William  Laton,  Jr., 
William  Laton, 


Peter  Mutty,  t  mark, 
Benjamin  Rushmore, 
William  Wright, 
Isaac  Bogart, 
John  Carpenter, 
Samuel  Townsend, 
James  Farley  (Capt.), 
Gideon  Wright, 
Samuel  Hare,  Jr., 
Gilbert  Hare, 
Benjamin  Birdsall, 
Benjamin  Townsend, 
Joseph  Doty, 
Josiah  Lattin — 43. 


18.  The  Deputies  from  the  several  counties  met  at  the 
Exchange,  city  of  New-York,  April  20,  when  the  Convention 
resolved  "that  the  gentlemen  from  Queens  county,  viz., 
John  Talman,  Joseph  Robinson,  Zebulon  Williams,  and  Col. 
Jacob  Blackwell,  be  allowed  to  be  present  at  its  deliberations, 
and  will  take  into  consideration  any  advice  they  may  offer 
but  cannot  allow  them  a  vote ;  with  which  those  gentlemen 
declare  themselves  satisfied  and  say  they  do  not  think  them- 
selves  entitled  to  vote.  Nevertheless,  they  are  at  liberty  to 
signify  their  approbation  or  disapprobation  of  every  matter, 
after  the  same  shall  be  determined."  (ilf  S.  Jour.  XL.  10.) 
So  they  had  no  voice  in  electing  Delegates  to  the  Continental 
Congress,  but  gave  their  assent  as  follows : 

We,  the  sub.'3cribcrs,  do.  in  behalf  of  ourselves  and  those 
freeholders  of  Q,ueens  county,  at  whose  request  we  attended 


28  RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 

the  Convention,  signify  our  assent  to,  and  approbation  of,  the 
above  Delegation. 

Signed,        John  Talman,         Jacob  Blackwell, 
Zeb.  Williams,      Joseph  Robinson. 

19.  The  day  after  the  Convention  broke  up,  April  23,  the 
news  of  the  battle  of  Lexington  reached  New-York,  and 
created  such  a  sensation  that  on  the  28th  the  New-York 
committee  again  sent  a  circular  and  a  form  of  association 
to  the  several  counties,  requesting  them  to  choose  Deputies 
to  a  Provincial  Congress,  to  assemble  May  24th,  and  "  de- 
liberate on  and  direct  such  measures  as  may  be  expedient 
for  our  common  safety." 

20.  May  18,  1775. — The  address  of  the  citizens  of  New- 
York  was  presented  to  Lt.  Gov.  Colden  at  Jamaica,  request- 
ing him  to  intercede  with  Gen.  Gage  and  the  King  to  stop 
their  violent  measures.  His  reply  was  unsatisfactory,  though 
given  with  tears. 

[From  Oyster  Bay  Town  Eecords.] 

21.  "We  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  being  of 
the  number  of  his  Majesty's  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  Queens 
County,  and  freeholders  in  the  town  of  Oyster  Bay,  hearing 
of  anonymous  advertisements  being  set  up  in  this  township 
to  notify  the  people  to  appear  at  Jamaica,  Monday,  22d  inst., 
to  choose  Deputies  to  form  a  Convention  to  carry  the  resolves 
of  the  Continental  Congress  into  execution,  do  take  this 
method  to  perpetuate  to  posterity  that  we  pay  no  regard  to 
anonymous  advertisements,  nor  to  any  other  matter  contrary 
to  the  sacred  oath  we  have  taken  to  keep  the  peace  of  the 
county,  as  far  as  we  are  able. 

Signed  by  us,  May  19,  1775. 

,  Justice,     [l.s.] 

,  Justice,     [l.s.] 

John  Townsend,  Justice,  [l.s.] 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  29 

22.  Daniel  Kissam  was  chairman  of  a  meeting  of  a  num- 
ber of  freeholders  in  Queens  County,  held  pursuant  to  public 
notice  at  Jamaica,  May  22,  1775,  in  compliance  with  the 
above  circular,  who  elected  unanimously — 

Col.  Jacob  Blackwell,  N.  Sam'l  Townsend,  Esq.,  O. 

Jona.  Lawrence,  N.  Zeb.  Williams,  Esq.,  O. 

Dan'l  Rapalje,  Esq.,  N.  Tho's  Hicks,  Esq.,  F.* 

Joseph  French,  Esq.,  J.  Nath'l  Tom,  F. 

Joseph  Robinson,  J.  Capt.  Rich'd  Thorne,  H.* 

*  Hicks  and  Thorne  were  intended  to  represent  Hempstead  ;  but  at 
the  election  three  gentlemen  delivered  a  message  from  the  freeholders  of 
Hempstead  saying  they  had  held  a  meeting  a  few  days  before,  and  deter- 
mined to  have  nothing  to  do  with  electing  Deputies,  but  to  wait  till  they 
knew  the  effect  of  the  petition  of  the  General  Assembly.  It  was  then 
proposed  that  no  Deputies  should  be  appointed  for  Hempstead,  but  it  was 
overruled,  as  in  that  case  the  County  would  be  partially  represented. 

23.  May  24,  1775. — The  Congress  was  opened  every 
morning  with  prayer  at  9,  by  the  city  clergy,  viz.  :  Dr. 
Auchmuty,  Dr.  Rogers,  Mr.  Ganno,  Mr.  Inglis,  Dr.  Laid- 
ley,  Mr.  Mason,  Mr.  Treat,  Dr.  Livingston,  Mr.  Moore,  Mr. 
Bowden. 

24.  May  29.— Congress  recommends  to  all  the  counties 
to  appoint  county  committees  and  sub-committees*  for  their 
respective  towns  without  delay,  to  carry  into  execution  the 
resolutions  of  the  Continental  and  Provincial  Congresses ; 
and  that  the  committee  tender  the  association  to  every 
inhabitant  within  their  district,  and  return  the  associations 
and  the  names  of  the  recusants  to  this  Congress  by  the  15th 
July  next. 

*  List  of  acting  Committeemen .^  so  far  as  ascertained,  from 
written  documents. 
County  Committee — formed  before  March,  1776. 
George  Townsend,  of  Norwich,  Chairman  and  Treasurer. 
JcjsEPH  Robinson,  of  Jamaica,  Deputij  Chairman. 
Jeromus  Remsen,  of  Newtown,  Clerk. 
.Tohn  Williams,      .lohn  Birdsall,     Benj.  Birdsall,      Daniel  Duiyea. 


80 


RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 


Capt.  Jeromus  Remsen, 
Wm.  Fuiman. 


SUB-COMMITTEES. 

Newtown. 
Jona.  Lawrence,  Ch'n,   Sam'l  Morrell, 
Philip  Edsall,  D'y  Ch'n,  Capi.  Sam'l  Moore, 
Sam'l  Riker, 

Flushing. 
John  Talman,  Ch'n,        Tho's  Rodman, 
John  Eagles,  Tho's  Thorne, 

Jamaica. 
Elias  Bayles,  Ch'n,  Amos  Denton, 

Joseph  Robinson,  John  Thurston, 

Cow  Neck,  Great  Neck,  b^c. 
John  Farmer,  Clerk,       Wm.  Cornwell, 
Martin  Schenck, 


Edmund  Pinfold, 
Joseph  Bowne,  Clerk. 


Noah  Smith, 
Nathaniel  Tuthill. 


Benj.  Sands,  Ch'n, 
Adriaen  Onderdonck, 

D'y  Ch'n,  Tho's  Dodge 


Peter  Onderdonck, 

Wm.  Hopkins,  Ch'n, 
Zeb.  Williams, 
Sam'l  Townsend, 
Joost  Monfort,"  Ch'n. 


Simeon  Sands, 

Oyster  Bay. 
John.  Kirk,* 
Isaac  Bogart,* 
Nathan  Horton,* 


D.  W.  Kissam, 
John  Cornwell. 


John  Luyster,* 
Sam'l  Youngs,* 
Minne  Suydam.* 


*  So  reported. 
Form  of  Association  recommended  April ^  1775. 
25.  "  Persuaded  that  the  salvation  of  the  rights  and  liher- 
ties  of  America  depends,  under  God,  on  the  firm  union  of 
its  inhabitants,  in  a  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  measures 
necessary  for  its  safety,  and  convinced  of  the  necessity  of 
preventing  the  anarchy  and  confusion  which  attend  the  dis- 
solution of  the  powers  of  government :  We,  the  freemen  and 
freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  Cow  Neck,  Great  Neck,  &c., 
in  Queens  County,  who  lately  belonged  to  the  company  of 
Capt.  Stephen  Thorne,  being  greatly  alarmed  at  the  avowed 
design  of  the  Ministry  to  raise  a  revenue  in  AiTierica,  and 
shocked  by  the  bloody  scene  now  acting  in  the  Massachusetts 
Bay,  do,  in  the  most  solemn  manner,  resolve  never  to  become 
slaves  ;  and  do  associate  under  all  the  ties  of  religion,  honor 
and  love  of  our  country,  to  adopt  and  endeavor  to  carry  into 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  31 

execution  whatever  measure  may  be  recommended  by  the 
Continental  Congress,  or  resolved  on  by  our  Provincial  Con- 
vention, for  the  purpose  of  preserving  our  constitution  and 
opposing  the  execution  of  the  several  arbitrary  and  oppressive 
acts  of  the  British  Parliament,  until  a  reconciliation  between 
Great  Britain  and  America,  on  constitutional  principles, 
(which  we  most  ardently  desire*)  can  be  obtained  ;  and  that 
we  will  in  all  things  follow  the  advice  of  our  general  com- 
mittee respecting  the  purposes  aforesaid,  the  preservation  of 
peace  and  good  order,  and  the  safety  of  individual  and 
private  property. 

Dated  at  Cow  Neck,  Jan.,  1776." 

[This  paper  has  thirty  names,  and  is  the  only  one  relating 
to  our  county  I  can  find.  The  others  have  been,  doubtless, 
lost  or  destroyed.] — Ed. 

John  Sands,  Seaman  Weeks,  Henrv  Hagner, 

Aspinwall  Cornwell,  John  Stocker,  Henry  Woolley, 

Henry  Allen,  Jr.,  John  Burtis,  \Vm.  Hulett, 

Benj.  Sands,  Adam  Mott,  Sr.,  Luke  Cumings, 

Simon  Sands,  Augustine  Betts,  Hewlett  Townsend, 

John  Farmer,  Andrew  H.  Onderdonk,  Tho's  Townsend, 

Tho's  Williams,  Jr.,  Wm.Hutchings,  weaver,  Richard  Townsend,  Jr., 

Capt.  Jacob  Mott,  Timothy  Townsend,       Joseph  Smith, 

Jackson  Mott,  James  Cornwell,  Jacob  Marvin, 

Jores  Rapalje,  W.  Barns,  Epenetus  Piatt. 

*  "  A  few  keen-sighted  men  had  ether  views,  and  were  prepared  from 
the  beginning  to  go  all  lengths.  Their  number  was  small  and  their  sen- 
timents kept  concealed." — Sparks. 

26.  June  4th,  Congress  order  that  the  state  of  Queens 
county  be  taken  into  consideration  to-morrow. 

June  22d,  Resolved,  That  Thomas  Hicks,  Joseph  French, 
and  Daniel  Rapalje,  Esq.,  elected  deputies,  and  who  have 
have  not  yet  attended,  be  requested  to  take  their  seats  on 
Tuesday  next,  or  assign  their  reasons  for  neglect, 

June  26,  letter  received  from  Joseph  French.     He  declines  to  attend. 


32  RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 

because  he  was  convinced  a  majority  of  the  freeholders  of  Jamaica  was 
opposed  to  sending  members  to  Congress. 

Thomas  Hicks,  of  Little  Neck,  elected  for  Hempstead,  declined  taking 
his  seat,  because  be  was  informed  by  several  leading  men  that  the  people 
of  Hempstead  seemed  much  inclined  to  remain  peac.able  and  quiet. 

27.  Ordered,  That  the  members  from  Queens  county- 
do,  on  Tuesday  next,  report  to  this  Congress  their  opinion  on 
the  conduct  of  their  constituents  with  regard  to  the  contro- 
versy now  subsisting  between  Great  Britain  and  the  American 
Colonies,  and  what  steps  have  been  taken  by  any  of  the  in- 
habitants to  defeat  the  measures  necessary  to  be  adopted  by 
the  Continental,  or  this  Congress,  for  the  preservation  of  our 
rights  and  privileges. 

June  38.  tt  appearing  that  a  great  number  of  the  in- 
habitants of  Queens  county  are  not  disposed  to  a  representa- 
tion at  this  Board,  and  have  dissented  therefrom  : 

Resolved^  That,  inasmuch  as  the  people  of  this  Colony 
have  appointed  us  to  watch  over  their  preservation,  and  dele- 
gated to  us  powers  necessary  for  that  purpose,  such  dissent 
ought  not  to  be  of  any  avail,  but  that  the  said  county  must  ne- 
cessarily be  bound  by  the  determination  of  this  Congress ;  and 
therefore,  inasmuch  as  the  members  for  said  county  were  elected 
by  a  considerable  part  of  its  inhabitants,  and  the  dissent  of 
othofs  is  not  to  the  persons  chosen,  but  the  choice  of  any 
persons: 

Ordered,  That  the  members  for  Queens  county  do  take  and 
hold  their  seats  at  this  Board,  notwithstanding  such  dissent, 
and  that  the  members  of  Queens  who  have  not  attended,  be 
served  with  a  copy  of  the  above  resolution  and  order. 

28.  July  8.  Whereas  the  Continental  Congress  have  re- 
commended to  the  inhabitants  of  the  colonies  to  keep  the  20th 
of  July,  instant,  as  a  day  of  Fasting  and  Prayer,  this  Con- 
gress  does  strictly  enjoin  all  persons  in  this  colony  religiously 
to  observe  the  same  ;  and  we,  being  taught  by  that  holy 
religion  declared  by  the  merciful  Jesus  and  sealed  by  his 
blood,  that  we  ought  to  acknowledge  the  hand  of  God  in  all 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  33 

public  calamities,  and  being  thoroughly  convinced  that  the 
Great  Disposer  of  events  regardeth  the  hearts  of  his  creatures, 
do  most  earnestly  recommend  it  to  all  men  to  conform  them- 
selves to  the  pure  dictates  of  Christianity,  and  by  deep  re- 
pentance and  the  sincere  amendment  of  their  lives,  to  implore 
of  our  Heavenly  Father  that  favor  and  protection  which  he 
alone  can  give. 

29.  Seyt.  2.  Joseph  Robinson  has  leave  to  receive  one 
hundred  weight  of  gunpowder  on  paying  cash. 

30.  Sept.  9.  Abraham  Lawrence,  of  Queens  county, 
taken  in  custody  by  the  New  Levies,  and  confined  in  New- 
York  Gaol,  was  brought  before  a  committee  of  Congress  at 
Scott's  Tavern,  Wall-street,  and  after  reprimand,  was  dis- 
missed. 

Sept.  8.  G.  Bethune,  now  of  Jamaica,  formerly  of 
Boston,  suspected  of  carrying  on  correspondence  with  his 
Majesty's  Army  and  Navy,  against  the  Liberties  of  Amer- 
ica, was  ordered  to  be  brought  by  Mr.  Sears,  with  his  letters 
and  papers,  before  the  committee. 

31.  Sept.  16.  Whereas,  a  great  number  of  the  men  en- 
listed in  the  Continental  Service  in  this  colony  arc  destitute 
of  arms,  and  every  method  to  hire  or  purchase  them  has 
failed,  and  the  only  method  remaining  is  to  impress  them  : 

Resolved^  That  all  such  arms  as  are  fit  for  the  use  of  the 
troops  raised  in  this  colony,  which  shall  be  found  in  the  hands 
of  any  person  who  has  not  signed  the  General  Association, 
shall  be  impressed  for  the  use  of  said  troops.  The  arms  shall 
be  appraised  by  three  indifferent  persons  of  reputation,  who 
shall  give  a  certificate,  which  shall  entitle  the  owner  to  receive 
the  appraised  value  thereof,  provided  the  same  be  not  re- 
turned. 

Ordered,  That  the  Captains  of  the  companies  of  the  3d  re- 
giment of  the  troops  of  this  colony,  (now  in  Suff'olk  county,) 
carry  these  Resolutions  into  effect  in  Gluecns  county,  and  that 
Col.  Lasher  be  instructed  to  send  two  or  more  companies  of  his 


34  RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 

battalion  to  give  such  assistance  as  may  be  necessary  in  dueens 
county. 

Ordered^  That  the  persons  so  disarmed  be  exempt  from 
militia  duty,  £^nd  in  case  any  of  the  non-associators  shall 
resist,  then  force  shall  be  resisted  by  force,  and  the  persons  so 
resisting  shall  be  taken  into  custody  and  brought  before  this 
Congress. 

Sept.  25.  Mr.  Abm.  Skinner  informed  the  Congress  that 
the  persons  sent  to  Jamaica  had  collected  a  few  arms,  that 
he  saw  several  persons  in  Queens  county  mustering  and  in 
arms  ;  and  he  apprehends  that  those  sent  to  disarm  will  meet 
with  opposition,  and  that  they  wish  a  battalion  sent  up  to  their 
assistance. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Benson  proceed  to  Queens  county  to 
know  the  true  state  of  things. 

Sept.  26.   Mr.  Benson  returned  with  the  following  letter  : 

Jamaica^  Sept.  25,  1775,  10  o'' clock,  P.  M. 

Sir  : — I  have  endeavored  in  the  towns  of  Jamaica  and 
Hempstead  to  carry  the  Resolutions  of  Congress  into  execu- 
tion ;  but  without  the  assistance  of  the  battalion  (Col.  Lasher's) 
I  shall  not  be  able  to  do  it  to  any  good  purpose.  The  people 
conceal  all  their  arms  that  are  of  any  value  ;  many  declare  that 
they  know  nothing  about  the  Congress,  nor  do  they  care  any 
thing  for  the  orders  of  Congress,  and  say  they  would  sooner 
lose  their  lives  than  give  up  their  arms ;  and  that  they  would 
blow  any  man's  brains  out  that  should  attempt  to  take  them. 
We  find  there  are  a  number  of  arms  that  belong  to  the 
county  in  the  hands  of  the  people.  Some  persons  are  so  hardy 
and  daring,  as  to  go  into  the  houses  of  those  that  are  friendly 
and  take  away  by  force  those  county  arms  that  our  friends  have 
received  from  the  Clerk  of  the  county. 

We  are  told  the  people  have  been  collecting  together,  and 
parading  in  sundry  places,  armed,  and  firing  their  muskets  by 
way  of  bravado.  We  also  have  it  from  good  authority,  that 
Governor  Colden  yesterday  sent  his  servant  round  to  some  of 
the  leading  people,  advising  them  to  arm  and  defend  them- 
Bclves,  and  not  deUvcr  their  arms.     In  consequence  of  which  a 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  35 

number  of  people  collected  themselves  this  morning  to  retake 
the  few  arms  we  collected  yesterday;  but  for  some  reason  did 
not  proceed. 

Captain  Hulet,  of  Hempstead,  told  us  he  had  his  com- 
pany together  last  Sunday,  and,  said  he,  "  Had  your  battalion 
appeared,  we  should  have  warmed  their  sides."  On  the  whole, 
had  we  the  battalion,  we  beheve  we  should  be  able  to  collect  a 
very  considerable  number  of  good  arms,  and  support  the  honor 
of  the  Congress,  but  without  it,  shall  not;  I  think  if  the  battal- 
ion is  sent  up,  the  sooner  the  better. 

Some  of  the  leading  men  of  Hempstead,  whom  w^e  this  day 
had  together,  proposed  to  call  the  town  together  on  Monday 
next,  and  consult  on  the  matter,  and  return  some  answer  or  an- 
other on  Tuesday  next,  and  seemed  desirous  to  put  off  the  mat- 
ter till  the  whole  Congress  met.  Whether  they  mean  by  this 
put  off,  to  gain  time  to  arm  and  prepare,  or  what  else,  we  know 
not.  I  am,  sir,  your  humble  servant, 

WM.  WILLIAMS. 

On  reading  the  above  letter  it  is  ordered,  That  the  com- 
mittee appointed  to  collect  arms  in  Queens  county,  be  de- 
sired to  send  in  all  arms  already  collected,  and  proceed  in 
collecting  all  they  can,  and  return  to  the  city  by  Friday  next, 
and  that  a  committee  of  five  of  our  body  proceed  to  Queens 
county  on  Friday,  and  use  every  prudent  measure  to  collect 
arms,  and  attend  a  meeting  to  be  held  at  Hempstead  on  Mon- 
day, and  endeavor  to  prevail  on  them  to  comply  with  the  re- 
solutions of  this  committee. 

[What  was  the  upshot  of  the  meeting  in  Hempstead,  we 
know  not. — Ed.] 

To  the  Provincial  Congress  for  the  Colony  of  New-  York  : 

32.  We,  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  inhabit- 
ants of  the  township  of  Jamaica,  do  hereby  declare,  that  we 
have  associated  ourselves  as  a  company  of  Minute  Men,  for 
the  defence  of  American  Liberty,  and  do  hereby  promise  and 
engage  to  be  obedient  to  our  officers,  and  subject  to  the  reso- 
lutions and  directions  of  the  Honorable  the  Continental  Con- 


36 


RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 


gress,  and  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  this  colony.  And 
we,  the  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  of  the  said 
company,  have  elected  the  following  gentlemen  for  our  com- 
missioned officers,  to  wit : 

John  Skidmore,  Esq.,  Captain  ;  Jacob  Wright,  Gent.,  first 
Lieutenant ;  Nicholas  Everit,  Gent.,  second  Lieutenant ; 
and  Ephraim  Marsten,  Gent.,  Ensign. 

In  witness  whereof,  we  have  hereunto  subscribed  our 
names,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1775. 


John  Baylis,  Richard  Belts, 

Derick  Amberman,  Nathaniel  Rhoades, 

Hendrick  Hendrickson,  Daniel  Skidmore, 
Aaron  Hendrickson,        Sylvester  Smith, 
Abm.  Hendrickson,         Andrew  Oakley, 
Jos.  Robinson,  volunteer,David  Lambertson, 


Samuel  Higbie, 
Isaac  Baylis, 
Richard  Smith, 
Urias  Rider, 
Hope  Rhoades, 
John  Bremner, 

Wm.  Ludlum,  Wm.  Cebra, 

Nehemiah  Baylis,  John  Smith, 

Thomas  Wiggins,  Benj.  Everitt, 

Richard  Rhoades,  Benj.  Thurston, 

Joseph  Higbie,  Obadiah  Smith, 

James  Hinchman,  Nehemiah  Ludlum, 

Nathaniel  Smith,  Nathaniel  Ludlum, 

Wm.  Thurston,  Samuel  Higbie, 

Daniel  Baylis,  Nehemiah  Everitt, 
Cornelius  Amberman,     Simeon  Smith, 

Andrew  Mills,  Stephen  Rider, 
Walter  Smith, 

[*Their  uniform  dress  was  a  linen  frock  reaching  below  the  knee,  with 

a  fringe  around  the  neck  and  arms  ;  and  a  white  feather  in  their  hat.  Of 
their  flag,  I  can  learn  nothing. — Ed.] 

SoNa  OF  THE  Jamaica  Minute  Men,  as  sung  by  S.  Mills. 

Arouse,  my  brother  Minute  Men  ! 
And  let  us  bear  our  chorus  ; 
The  braver  and  the  bolder, 
Tlie  more  they  will  adore  us. 

Toll  de  rol,  Sec. 

Our  country  calls  for  swords  and  balls, 
Our  drums  aloud  do  rattle, 
Our  fifcr's  charms  arouse  to  arms, 
And  Liberty  calls  to  battle. 

Toll  de  rol,  6c.c. 


Thomas  Higbie, 

Nicholas  Smith, 

Benj.  Smith, 

John  Stin, 

John  Innis, 

Jesse  Wilson, 

Peter  Canile, 

W.  Stin, 

Waters  Lambertson, 

Robert  Betts, 

Daniel  Higbie.* 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  37 

Now  to  our  station  let  us  march 
And  rendezvous  with  pleasure, 
Behaving  like  brave  Minute  Men 
To  save  so  great  a  treasure. 

Toll  de  rol,  &c. 

We'll  let  'em  see  immediately 
That  we  are  men  of  mettle, 
American  boys  who  fear  no  noise, 
And  ne'er  will  flinch  from  battle. 
Toll  de  rol,  &c. 

We  have  some  noble  Congressmen 
Elected  for  our  nursea, 
And  every  jolly  farmer  will 
Assist  'em  with  their  purses. 

Toll  de  rol,  &c. 

And  they  ma^  stay  at  home,  we  say, 
And  eojoy  their  state  of  pleasure, 
While  we  do  go  and  fight  their  foe 
And  save  their  lives  and  treasure- 
Toll  dorol,&c. 

Why  should  we  be  dismayed, 
If  the  Tories — they  do  thunder, 
They  only  want  to  ruin  us 
And  live  upon  their  plunder. 

Toll  de  rol,  &e. 

Such  heavy  chains  we  do  disdain, 
And  likewise  Popish  tyranny  j 
Such  hellish  frays  we  do  defy, 
And  will  not  yield  to  any. 

Toll  de  rol,  tc. 

Why  should  we  be  dismayed 
If  the  Tories — they  defy  us? 
There  are  the  brave  riflemen, 
They  say  they  will  stand  byus- 
Toll  de  rol,  Sec. 

That  Tory  brood  that  has  withstood 
This  great  and  glorious  jovial. 
If  they  advance,  we'll  make  'em  dance 
The  tune  of  Yankee  Doodle. 

ToUde  rol,&c. 


33.  At  a  meeting  of  us,  the  freemen,  freeholders  and 
other  inhabitants  of  Great  Neck,  Cow  Neck,  and  all  such  as 
lately  belonged  to  the  company  of  Captain  Stephen  Thome, 
in  Queens  county,  being  duly  warned  on  Saturday,  Sept. 


38  RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 

23d,  1775,  and  taking  into  our  serious  consideration  our  dis- 
tressed and  calamitous  situation,  and  being  convinced  of  our 
total  inability  to  pursue  proper  measures  for  our  common 
safety,  while  we  in  all  cases  are  considered  as  a  part  of  the 
township  of  Hempstead,  and  being  conscious  that  self-preser- 
vation, the  immutable  law  of  nature,  is  indispensable,  do 
therefore, 

1.  Besolve,  That  during  the  present  controversy,  or  so  long 
as  their  general  conduct  is  inimical  to  freedom,  we  be  no  fur- 
ther considered  as  a  part  of  the  township  of  Hempstead  than  is 
consistent  with  peace,  liberty  and  safety ;  therefore  in  all  mat- 
ters relative  to  the  Congressional  plan,  we  shall  consider  our- 
selves as  an  entire,  separate  and  independent  beat  or  district. 

2.  Resolve,  That  Mr.  Daniel  Kissam,  Henry  Stocker,  W. 
Cornwell;  John  Burtis,  Daniel  Whitehead  Kissam,  Adrian  On- 
derdonck,  Wm.  Thorne.  John  Cornwell,  Simon  Sands,  Benj. 
Sands,  John  Mitchell,  Sen.,  Martin  Schenck,  Peter  Onder- 
donck,  and  Thomas  Dodge,  be  a  committee  for  this  beat  or  dis- 
trict. True  copy,  attested. 

JOHN  FARMER,  Clerk  of  the  Meeting. 
In  Committee  for  the  District  of  Cow  Neck,  Great  Neck,  (Sz;c., 
in  Queens  county,  Oct.  4,  1775. 
Present,  John  Cornwell,  William  Cornwell,  Thos.  Dodge, 
Simon   Sands,   Adrian  Onderdonck,  Daniel  Whitehead  Kis- 
sam, Peter  Onderdonck,  John  Burtis,  Benj.  Sands. 

Then  proceeded  and  chose  Benj.  Sands,  Chairman.  Then 
adjourned  to  7th  instant. 

In  Committee  according  to  adjournment : 
Present,  John  Cornwell,  Wm.  Cornwell,  Benj.  Sands,  Si- 
mon Sands,  Peter  Onderdonck,  Adrian  Onderdonck,  Thomas 
Dodge,  Daniel    Whitehead    Kissam,   Martin  Schenck,  when 
the  following  resolutions  were  passed  nem  con. : 

1.  Resolved,  That  the  proceedings  of  the  meeting  of  the 
23d  of  September,  for  enabling  this  part  of  the  county  to  pur- 
sue Congressional  measures,  and  the  committee  chosen  in  con- 
sequence, be  immediately  laid  beibre  the  Honorable  the  Pro- 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  39 

vincial  Congress,  or  in  their  recess,  the  Committee  of  Safety, 
for  their  approbation. 

2.  Resolved^  That  the  following  gentlemen  having  signed 
the  General  Association,  and  being  duly  elected  as  officers  ^f 
the  militia  company,  lately  formed  in  this  district,  agreeably  to 
the  recommendations  of  the  Honorable  Provincial  Congress  of 
this  colony,  are  hereby  returned  according  : 

John  Sands,  Captain  ;  Henry  Allen,  first  Lieutenant ;  Tho- 
mas Mitchell,  second  Lieutenant;  Aspinwall  Cornwell,  Ensign. 
Signed  by  order, 

BENJAMIN  SANDS,  Chairman. 
True  copy,  attested. 

JOHN  FARMER,  Clerk  of  Committee. 
To  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Esq. 

The  Provincial  Congress  were  highly  pleased  with  these 
proceedings,  and  replied  as  follows : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  at  New-York,  Oct.  12,  1775. 

Sir  : — The  Congress  have  received  the  state  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  inhabitants  of  Great  Neck,  Cow  Neck,  &c., 
relative  to  the  choice  of  a  committee  and  of  officers  for  that 
district,  and  highly  approve  of  their  conduct  therein.  The 
commissions  are  enclosed  to  the  officers  agreeable  to  the  choice 
made ;  and  the  Congress  doubt  not  that  your  committee  and 
the  other  associators,  will,  in  their  conduct,  manifest  a  due  at- 
tention to  the  important  interests  of  their  country  in  its  present 
alarming  and  critical  situation. 

We  are,  your  humble  servants. 

P.  S.  You  are  requested  to  return  a  list  of  the  Associators 
as  soon  as  may  be  convenient. 

NATHANIEL  WOODHULL,  President. 
To  Benjamin  Sands,  Esq., 

Ch^n  of  Com.  of  Great  and  Cow  Neck. 

Vote  for  Deputies. 
34.  Nov.  7,   1775.    Jamaica.     The  polls  were  opened 
from  Tuesday  till  Saturday,  5  o'clock,  afternoon.     The  per- 
sons nominated  for  Deputies  to  Congress,  were 


40 


RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 


Col.  Jacob  Blackwell,  N.,         Wm.  Townsend,  Esq.,  O., 
Samuel  Townsend,  Esq.,  O.,     Waters  Smith,  J., 
Benj.  Sands,  C.  N.,  Jeromus  Remsen,  Jr.,  N., 

Stephen  Van  Wyck,  F. 
The  vote  stood  against  Deputies  788  ;  for  Deputies  221, 
as  follows  : 


Micajah  Townsend, 
John  J.  Skidinore, 
Ephraim  Bayles, 
Alexander  Wheyley, 
Samuel  Riker, 
Philip  Woodard, 
Benjamin  Cornish, 
Robert  Field, 
Stephen  Field, 
Morris  Hazard, 
Simon  Sands, 
Lambert  Woodard, 
Daniel  Lawrence, 
Fordham  Burtis, 
John  Rodgers, 
Elbert  Hegeman,  Jr., 
Elbert  Hegeman,  Sr., 
H.  Hendrickson,  Jr., 
Elias  Bayles, 
Henry  Stocker, 
Benjamin  Coe, 
Jonathan  Coe, 
Abraham  Keteltas, 
Wait  Smith, 
Daniel  Bayles, 
Samuel  Waldron, 
Simon  Horton, 
John  Burtis, 
Wm.  Furman, 
Nicholas  Everitt, 
Daniel  Ludlam, 
Whitehead  Skidmore, 
Richard  Berrien, 


Andries  Hegeman,  Jr. 
Obadiah  Demilt, 
John  Waters, 
Robert  Morrell, 
Matthias  Van  Dyck, 
Andries  Hegeman,  Sr, 
Uriah  Mitchell, 
Thomas  Rodman, 
John  Parker, 
John  Thome,  H., 
Thos.  Thorne, 
John  Thorne,  F. 
Cornelius  Van  Wyck, 
Wm.  Thorne, 
Thomas  Mitchell, 
John  Montaine, 
James  Doughty, 
John  Yates, 
James  Burling, 
Richard  Rapalje, 
Gilliam  Cornell, 
Increase  Carpenter,  Jr. 
Jacob  Carpenter, 
John  Luyster, 
Rem.  Hegeman, 
Jacobus  Luyster, 
Samson  Crooker, 
Lieut.  Charles  Hicks, 
John  Brimner, 
Thos.  Woodard, 
Joseph  Bazly, 
David  Laton, 
Jotham  Townsend, 


,  Wm.  Creed,  Jr., 
Samuel  Seaman, 
Isaac  Hendrickson, 
Wm.  Forbus, 
Wm.  Seaman, 
,,  Christopher  Robert, 
Jonas  Fredericks, 
Cornelius  Losee, 
Joseph  Higbie, 
Thos.  Dodge, 
Peter  Onderdonck, 
Thos.  Wiggins, 
George  Bennet, 
Albert  Nostrand, 
John  Mills, 
Benj.  Hinchman, 
Wm.  Willis, 
Benjamin  Akerly, 
Philip  Valentine, 
Benj.  North, 
Benj.  Sands, 
,  Gabriel  Smith, 
Richard  Valentine, 
Jno.  Fish, 

George  Brinckerhoff, 
Benj,  Moore, 
Zebulon  Williams, 
Docto-  Latham, 
Doctor  Townsend, 
Richard  Lawrence, 
Richard  Bftts,  N.  T., 
Wm.  Sackett, 
Edmund  Penfold, 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 


41 


Thomas  Burroughs, 
John  Ppttitt, 
Martin  Schenck, 
Samuel  Burr, 
Othniel  Smith, 
Gabriel  Furnian, 
Wm.  Ludlam,  Jr., 
Nehemiah  Everitt, 
Robert  Mitchell, 
Nicholas  Smith, 
Daniel  Hitchcock, 
John  Roades, 
Richard  Roades, 
Nathaniel  Smith, 
Adrian  Onderdonck, 
Amos  Denton, 
Ephraim  Marston, 
Noah  Smith,  Jr., 
Noah  Smith,  Sr., 
Walter  Smith, 
Benjamin  Everitt, 
John  Burroughs, 
Benjamin  Field,  Jr., 
Aaron  Hendrickson, 
Wm.  Ludlam,  Sr., 
Daniel  W.  Kissam, 
Wm.  Howard, 
Nicholas  Smith,  Jr., 
Nathaniel  Box, 
Samuel  Morrell, 
Jonathan  Lawrence, 
Capt.  Samuel  Moore, 
Joseph  Robinson, 
John  Riker, 
Samuel  Smith, 
John  Cockle, 
Samuel  Higby,  Sr., 
Rem.  Remsen,  N.  T. 
John  Burtis, 
Benjamin  Field, 
Piatt  Smith, 


Daniel  Burr, 
John  Burtis, 
Isaac  Bayles, 
James  Townsend,  0., 
Zeb.  Seaman,  Jr.,  0., 
George  Townsend, 
J.  Williams  Seaman,  O 
Gilbert  Searing, 
John  Schenck, 
Joseph  Coles, 
Daniel  Searing, 
John  Searing, 
Jacob  Searing, 
John  Sands, 
Pepperel  Bloodgood, 
Wa^er  Dalton, 
John  Skidmore, 
John  Skidmore,  Sr., 
Jonah  Roades, 
John  Coe, 
Philip  Edsall, 
Charles  Boerum, 
Stephen  Pettitt, 
Benjamin  Farrington, 
Philip  Edsall,  Jr., 
John  Bru.^h, 
Wm.  Belts, 
John  Way, 
John  Hendrickson, 
Hendrick  Hendrickson, 
Jonah  Hallet, 
Thos.  Denton, 
John  Smith, 
Wm.  Creed,  Sr., 
Stephen  Rider, 
Christopher  Rider, 
Isaac  Hendrickson, 
Garret  Murphy, 
Luke  Remsen, 
Samuel  Messenger, 
John  Vanieaw,  J., 


Samuel  Denton, 
Isaac  Roades, 
Samuel  Edsall, 
Hope  Roades, 
Samuel  Lawrence, 
Wm.  Penfold, 
,Thos.  Lawrence, 
Nath.  Tom, 
Daniel  Everitt, 
Robert  Hinchman, 
John  Thurston, 
Hope  Roades,  Jr., 
Augustin  Betts, 
James  Hinchman, 
Jonathan  Roberts, 
Robert  Denton, 
Samuel  Higbie,  Jr., 
Jacob  Wright, 
Uriah  Rider, 
Nicholas  Van  Dyck, 
Peter  Smith, 
Benj.  Birdsall, 
Jeseph  Bowne, 
Jacob  Johnson, 
Andrew  Oakley, 
Robert  Coe, 
Abm.  Brinckerhoff, 
Howard  Furman, 
Jonathan  Thurston, 
Jonathan  Wright, 
Wm.  Glean, 
Moses  Higby, 
Gilbert  Hicks, 
Jacob  Mott, 
John  Eagles, 
Stephen  Cornell, 
Is.  Hicks, 
David  Lamberson, 
Adam  Mott,  Cow  N., 
Jacob  Valentine. — 221 , 


42  RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 

Certified  by  Joseph  Robinson,  Inspector  of  the  Polls. 
Queens  county  therefore  had  no  representation  in  the  Con- 
gress till  May  14,  1776. 

35.  Nov.  30.  Capt.  Richard  Hulet,  of  Hempstead,  re- 
ceived a  great  quantity  of  powder,  ball,  small  arms,  and  can- 
non, with  a  gunner  to  work  it,  from  the  Asia,  which  he 
distributed. 

36.  Dec.  6.  Congress  assembled. 

Dec.  13.  Whereas  this  Congress  has  received  information 
that  a  number  of  disaffected  persons  in  Queens  county  have 
been  supplied  with  arms  and  ammunition  from  the  Asia  ship  of 
war,  and  are  arraying  themselves  in  military  manner  to 
oppose  the  measures  taken  by  the  United  Colonies  for  their 
just  rights  and  privileges,  and  have  thrown  out  many  threat- 
ening expressions, 

Resolved,  That  such  conduct  is  inimical  to  the  common 
cause  of  the  United  Colonies,  and  ought  not  by  any  means  to 
be  suffered. 

Ordered,  That  the  inhabitants  of  said  county  appear  on  the 
19th  inst.,  by  committee,  before  this  Congress,  to  give  satisfac- 
tion in  the  premises. 

Dec.  21.  Whereas  the  disaffected  persons  of  Queens 
county  have  not  appeared  before  this  Congress,  and  have  op- 
posed the  election  of  Deputies,  whereby  it  remains  unrepre- 
sented in  this  Congress  ;  and  whereas,  the  Poll  List  of  Queens 
county  has  been  returned  to  this  Congress,  whereby  the  per- 
sons so  offending  may  be  ascertained  : 

Resolved,  That  such  persons  are  guilty  of  a  breach  of  the 
General  Association,  and  of  open  contempt  of  the  authority  of 
this  Congress. 

Resolved,  That  such  delinquents  are  hereby  entirely  put 
out  of  the  protection  of  this  Congress,  that  all  friendly  and  com- 
mercial intercourse  between  said  dcHnquents  and  other  persons 
of  this  colony  hereby  is  and  shall  continue  to  be  entirely  cut 
off,  till  the  further  order  of  tliis  Congress,  and  that  a  list  of  such 
delinquents  shall  be  printed  and  dispersed  in  handbills. 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  43- 

The  above  resolves  induced  some  who  had  been  advertised  to  repent, 
sign  the  Association,  and  petition  Congress  to  be  restored  to  the  good 
opinion  of  the  friends  of  Liberty.     (See  Thompson,  i.  202.) 

Whereas,  In  the  List  of  Delinquents  in  Queens  county,  published  in 
the  New-York  Journal,  No.  1721,  and  New-York  Mercury,  No.  1264, 
is  inserted  the  name  of  Henry  Suydam,  which  many  have  supposed  to  be 
the  subscriber,  who  not  choosing  to  lie  under  the  imputation  of  being  an 
enemy  to  his  country,  takes  this  method  to  make  known  to  the  public, 
that  the  person  called  Henry  Suydam  in  said  List,  is  not  the  subscriber. 
HENDRICK  SUYDAM, 

Miller,  living  at  Newtown,  L.  L 

The  Printer  is  desired  to  inform  the  public  that  Joseph  Pearsnll,  men- 
tioned in  the  List  of  Delinquents  in  Queens  county,  is  not  Joseph  Pear- 
sail,  w.itchmaker,  of  New-York,  now  on  Cow  Neck,  L-  I.  Jan.  2,  1776. 

Dp.c.  2L  The  Congress  did  not  dare  of  themselves  to  use  force  agninst 
the  Delinquents,  but  contented  themselves  with  resolutions,  and  wrote  to 
the  Continental  Congress  for  advice  and  assistance,  at  the  same  time 
sending  a  List  of  Delinquents,  and  begging  Congress  not  to  employ  New- 
Yorkers  to  quell  the  opposition. 

37.  Proceedings  of  the  Continental  Congress  at  Philadel- 
phia on  receiving  the  Poll  List  of  Queens  county,  January 
3,  1776. 

Whereas,  a  majority  of  the  inhabitants  of  Queens  county, 
in  the  colony  of  New- York,  being  incapable  of  resolving  to 
live  and  die  freemen,  and  being  more  disposed  to  quit  their 
liberties  than  part  with  the  little  proportion  of  their  property 
that  may  be  necessary  to  defend  them,  have  deserted  the 
American  cause,  by  refusing  to  send  deputies  as  usual  to 
the  convention  of  that  colony  ;  and  avowing  by  a  public  de- 
claration, or  unmanly  design  of  reiTiaining  inactive  specta- 
tors of  the  present  contest,  vainly  flattering  themselves,  per- 
haps, that  should  Providence  declare  for  our  enemies,  they 
may  purchase  their  mercy  and  favor  at  an  easy  rate ;  and 
on  tlie  other  hand,  if  the  war  should  terminate  in  favor  of 
AiTierica.  that  then  they  may  enjoy,  without  expense  of  blood 
or  treasure,  all  the  blessings  resulting  from  that  liberty 
which  they  in  the  day  of  trial  had  abandoned,  and  in  defence 


44  RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 

of  which,  many  of  their  more  virtuous  neighbors  and  coun- 
trymen had  nobly  died;  and  although  the  want  of  public 
spirit  observable  in  these  men  rather  excites  pity  than  alarm, 
there  being  little  danger  to  apprehend  either  from  their  prowess 
or  example,  yet  it  being  reasonable  that  those  who  refuse  to 
defend  their  country  should  be  excluded  from  its  protection 
and  prevented  from  doing  injury  : 

1.  Resolved^  That  Col.  Heard,  of  Woodbridge,  New  Jersey, 
take  with  him  five  or  six  hundred  Minute  Men,  under  discreet 
officers,  and  three  companies  of  Regulars  from  Lord  Sterling, 
and  disarm  every  person  in  Q,ueens  county  who  voted  against 
sending  Deputies,  and  cause  them  to  deliver  up  their  arms  and 
amunition  on  oath,  and  that  he  take  and  confine  such  as  refuse 
compliance. 

2.  Resolved^  That  he  apprehend  and  secure  the  twenty-six 
persons  named,  as  principal  men  among  the  disaffected,  and  all 
such  other  persons  who  shall  be  found  in  arms  or  oppose  the 
carrying  the  above  resolution  into  effect. 

That  he  execute  the  business  with  all  possible  despatch,  se- 
crecy, order  and  humanity. 

That  all  such  persons  in  Q,ueens  county  as  voted  against 
sending  Deputies,  be  put  out  of  the  protection  of  the  United 
Colonies,  and  that  all  trade  and  intercourse  with  them  cease  ; 
that  none  of  the  inhabitants  be  permitted  to  travel  or  abide  in 
any  part  of  the  United  Colonies  out  of  their  county,  without  a 
certificate  that  he  is  a  friend  to  the  American  cause,  that  no 
lawyer  ought  to  prosecute  or  defend  any  action  at  law  for  any 
who  voted  against  sending  Deputies,  and  that  their  names  con- 
tinue to  be  published  for  a  month  in  the  newspapers. 

38.  Letter  from  an  officer  in  the  expedition  on  Long  Island  : 

Jericho,  Jan.  26,  '76. 
Sir: — We  set  out  from  Woodbridge  on  Wednesday,  17th 
instant,  with  about  600  militia,  and  were  joined  at  New- York  by 
Sterling's  battalion  of  near  300.  On  Friday  morning  we 
crossed  at  Horn's  Hook  near  Hell  Gate,  and  met  wiih  no  op- 
position ;  proceeded  on  our  way  to  Jamaica,  took  in  custody 
some  of  the  principal  persons  proscribed,  sent  out  parties  and 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  45 

brought  in  many  of  those  who  voted  against  Delegates,  disarmed 
them,  and  required  them  to  sign  an  obhgation  not  to  oppose 
the  Continental  or  Provincial  Congress,  and  not  aid  the  Minis- 
terial troops. 

From  Jamaica  we  went  to  Hempstead  Town,  where  we  ex- 
pected the  warmest  opposition,  but  wer;  disappointed.  The 
inhabitants  came  in  and  brought  in  their  arms  voluntarily  for 
two  days,  as  fast  as  we  could  conveniently  receive  them.  We 
have  got  300  stand  of  arms  and  considerable  powder  and 
lead.  We  are  now  on  our  way  for  Oyster  Bay,  and  shall  scour 
the  country  as  we  go. 

Col.  Heard  sent  the  battalion*  home  last  Tuesday,  as  he 
thought  the  militia  sufficient.  He  is  indefatigable,  treats  the 
inhabitants  with  civility  and  the  utmost  humanity.  Many  of 
the  proscribed  as  principals  have  fled  or  secreted  themselves. 
Several  we  have  in  custody.  Some  others  are  yet  to  be  had, 
but  they  have  had,  by  some  means  or  other,  a  hst  of  persons 
pointed  out  as  principals  before  our  arrival. 

Those  who  came  in  and  surrendered  their  arms,  are  much 
irritated  with  those  who  have  led  them  to  make  opposition,  and 
deserted  them  in  the  day  of  difficulty. 

From  W.  De  Hart  to  Lord  Sterling. 

Jan.  25, 1776. 
As  few  of  Col.  Heard's  militia  came  up,  I  was  obliged  to 
quarter  at  Hell  Gate.  Next  day  got  as  far  as  Jamaica.  Staid 
there  two  days,  and  then  marched  to  Hempstead.  Staid  there 
two  days  more,  when  we  joined,  which  might  have  been  much 
earlier.  Discovered  a  much  smaller  number  might  answer  our 
purpose.  The  battalion  left  Col.  Heard  at  Hempstead  last 
Wednesday  with  600  or  700  militia,  where  great  numbers  of 
Tories  were  every  hour  coming  in  and  delivering  up  their  arms 
— above  500,  I  suppose,  and  if  transported  by  water,  may  be 
worth  the  freight.  Our  men  behaved  well.  New- York  volun- 
teers, not  so. 

Declaration  signed  by  Delinquents. 

Jan.  19,  1776. 
Whereas,  we  have  given  great  uneasiness  to  the  good  peo- 
ple of  the  neighboring  provinces  and  the  Continent  in  gene- 
s' 


46  RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 

ral.  by  our  not  clioosing  a  committee  agreeable  to  the  order  of 
the  Continental  Contrress.  by  our  not  paying  that  attention  to 
the  direclions  of"  the  Provincial  Congress  that  we  ought  to  have 
done,  and  by  our  opposing  the  general  instructions  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  in  almost  all  our  conduct  and  actions: 

Therefore,  (to  relieve  the  minds  of  the  virtuous  inhabitants 
of  America,  and  those  of  this  county  in  particular,  engaged  in 
the  common  cause.)  we,  the  subscribers,  do  most  solemnly  and 
seriously  promise,  that  we  will  in  all  cases  obey  implicitly  all 
orders  and  instructions  enjoined  on  us  by  our  Continental  and 
Provincial  Congress,  that  we  will  act  in  conjunction  with  the 
inhabitants  ol  this  and  the  neighboring  provinces  in  the  defence 
of  American  Liberty,  that  we  will  never  take  up  arms  against 
the  Americans^  and  that  we  will  not  countenance  and  assist  or 
join  with  any  of  his  Majesty's  troops  in  the  present  contest. 
(471  names  o milted.) 

Oath  subscribed  by  the  Delinquents. 

"  We,  the  subscribers,  in  the  presence  of  Almighty  God,  do 
most  solemnly  and  sincerely  swear,  that  the  fire-arms,  side- 
arms,  powder  and  lead,  we  respectively  delivered  up  to  Col. 
Heard  and  his  party,  or  by  them  taken  from  up,  are  all  that  be- 
long to  us,  or  in  our  pos.session  or  power  5  and  that  we  have 
not  destroyed,  concealed  or  otherwise  disposed  of,  any  of  our 
said  arms  or  ammunition,  in  order  to  evade  or  obstruct  the  exe- 
cution of  Col.  Heard's  orders  from  the  Continental  Congress, 
for  disarming  the  inhabitants  of  Q,uecns  county,  who  are  disaf- 
fected to  the  opposition  now  making  in  America  against  Min- 
isterial Tyranny." 

(349  names  omitted.) 

Col.  Hcardf  crossed  Ilurl  Gate  Ferry  and  j)rocecded 
through  NewlownJ  to  Jamaica,  at  Bctts'  Tavern,  and  left  on 
a  Sunday  for  Hempstead.  There  was  groat  talk  of  opposi- 
tion in  Hempstead,  but  it  was  at  last  concluded  to  submit. 
His  quarters  were  at  Nathaniel  Saujmis'.  Tlic  men  mostly 
fled.  One  Anthony,  trusting  to  his  wits,  determined  to  stay 
and  play  the  fool.  When  taken  before  Heard,  he  was  asked 
what  he  knew  of  the  Asia  ?     "  Asia,  what  kind  of  an  animal 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  47 

is  it  ?"  '-Take  your  hat  off,  sir."  Anthony  stood  still, 
when  it  was  taken  off  by  a  soldier.  Showing  him  the  De- 
claration, he  was  asked  if  he  would  put  his  hand  to  that  pa- 
per. Down  went  his  left  hand  on  the  paper.  He  was  soon 
thrust  out  of  the  room,  as  a  fool. 

Col.  Heard  next  proceeded  through  Jericho  and  Norwich 
to  Oyster  Bay,  (Weeks'  Tavern,)  where  he  staid  two  nights, 
his  men  billeted  on  the  inhabitants.  He  sent  out  parties  to 
Cedar  Swamp,  Hempstead  Harbor  and  Flushing,  on  his  re- 
turn probably. 

In  sDm3  cases  the  delinquents  on  being  notified  came  to 
designated  places.  Remote  spots'were  visited  by  detached  par. 
ties.  Many  however  ftjd,  hid  in  swamps,  concealed  their 
best  guns,  and  gave  up  the  poorer  ones. 

Col.  H^ard  carried  off  noarly  1000  muskets,  four  colors 
of  Long  [slani  militia,  and  nineteen  of  the  principal  disaf- 
fected persons  ;  seven  having  left  their  homes. 

Feb.  6.  They  were  sent  back  by  th3  Continental  Con- 
gress from  Philadelphia,  and  handed  over  to  the  New-York 
Provincial  Congress  to  examine  and  report  on  their  conduct. 
They  were  put  under  guard  at  thoirown  exp.:jnse,  in  a  house 
of  their  o;vn  selection,  in  New- York  city  ;  and  letters  were 
sent  to  the  town  committees  to  collect  evidence  anjainst  them. 

Feb.  IG.  They  petitioned  for  a  discharge,  which  was 
granted  on  their  paying  all  expenses  and  giving  bonds  for 
their  peaceable  deportment  and  appearance  before  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  when  summoned. 

Col.  Hjard  received  the  thanks  of  the  committee  for  his 
prudence  in  the  execution  of  his  duty, 

•  "  The  party  of  Continental  troops  behaved  in  so  disorderly  a  man- 
ner that  he  was  obliged  to  dismiss  them." 

t  Fragment  of  an  old  Song,  intended  to  ridicule  Col.  Heard  : 

1.  Col.  Heard  has  como  to  town, 
In  all  his  pride  and  glory  ; 
And  when  he  dies  he'll  go  to  U— 1 
For  rubbiog  of  iho  Tuiy. 


48  RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 

2.  Col.  Heard  has  come  to  town 

A  thinking  for  to  plunder  ; 
Before  he'd  done,  he  h  rd  to  run — 
He  heard  the  cannon  thunder. 

3.  And  when  he  came  to  Hempstead  towu 

He  heard  ihe  cannon  rattle, — 
Poor  Col.  Heard  he  ran  away 
And  dared  not  face  the  battle. 

4.  And  now  he's  gone  to  Oyster  Bay 

Quick  for  to  cross  the  water  ; 
He  dare  no  m<>re  in  Hempstead  stay 
For  fear  of  meeting  with  a  slaughter. 

t  A  Teacher  at  Newtown  had  his  boys  drawn  up  by  the  road-side  to 
make  their  manners  as  the  soldiers  passed. 

39.  In  reply  to  a  circular  letter  sent  to  the  different  com- 
mittees of  Queens  county,  soliciting  evidence  against  the 
prisoners  carried  off  to  Philadelphia  by  Col.  Heard,  the  com- 
mittee of  Great  Neck,  Cow  Neck,  &c.,  replied  as  follows  : 

District  of  Great  Neck,  Cow  Neck,  (^c,  > 
March  9,  '76.      § 

Sir:  The  committee  have  received  a  letter  from  your 
honorable  body,  of  the  15th  of  February,  and  as  far  as  lay  in 
their  power,  complied  with  its  contents. 

"  But  surely  [you  will  say]  you  could  have  collected  more 
proof  than  all  this  ?"  The  answer  is  ready.  Their  meetings 
were  confined  to  their  own  party,  their  conclusions  kept  as 
secret  as  possible,  added  to  our  living  in  a  remote  part  of  the 
county,  rendered  our  abilities  unequal  to  the  task. 

We  are,  however,  able  to  give  an  imperfect  account  of  our 
own  district,  wherein  lives  but  one  of  the  proscribed.  And  as 
this  great  man  has  been  supposed  by  many  the  main-spring  in 
keeping  up  the  divisions  in  this  county,  it  may  be  a  sufficient 
excuse  tor  our  being  tedious  on  this  head. 

We  shall  therefore,  with  the  utmost  humility,  proceed  to 
put  our  scattered  materials  in  order,  for  tlie  consideration  of 
your  honorable  body. 

Soon  after  this  gentleman  left  the  General  Assembly,  he 
appears  in  the  light  of  a  disperser  of  the  "Q^ueens  County  Free- 
holder."* The  design  of  this  paper  is  glaring  on  its  whole 
surface. 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  49 

He  next  appears  the  author  of  the  Hempstead  resolves  '? 
and  as  the  Q,ueens  County  Freeholder  levelled  its  whole  force 
at  the  very  essence  of  a  Continental  Congress,  so  these  re- 
solves struck  at  the  total  overthrow  of  Provincial  ones. 

Soon  after  the  Battle  of  Lexington,  this  gentleman  roundly 
avows  that  the  Bostonians  fired  first  on  the  King's  troops.^  and 
that  more  of  the  Bostonians  were  killed  than  of  the  Regulars ; 
but  as  the  public  prints  gave  the  lie  to  this  proposition,  it  be- 
came necessary  to  erect  a  new  battery. 

Hence  he  asserts  the  newspapers  are  lies.^  He  had,  he 
said,  private  information  that  might  be  depended  upon.  But 
this  having  no  other  foundation  than  his  own  assertions,  the 
means  were  unequal  to  the  end.  Here,  with  an  air  of  import- 
ance equal  to  its  absurdity,  [he]  asserts,  "  Capt.  McDougal 
says  '  it  is  necessary  to  print  untruths'  to  keep  up  the  spirits  of 
the  people,^  and  Capt.  St.  Thorne  [says  he]  is  my  author,  who 
heard  him  say  so." 

The  populace  took  fire  like  hasty  combustibles,  and  although 
Capt.  Thorne  denied  the  essential  part  of  the  charge,  yet  it 
was  impossible  fully  to  prevent  its  effects. 

Soon  after  the  order  of  the  respectable  committee  of  safety 
for  collecting  some  arms  in  Q,ueens  county,  (see  36.)  this  gen- 
tleman attacks  the  right,  and  ^openly  declared  that  they  were 
an  unconstitutional  body,  who  had  no  legal  existence,  and  that 
he  was  determined  to  resist  the  order ;  but  had  it  been  the 
Continental  Congress  [he  said]  he  would  have  submitted  pub- 
licly, for  he  did  not  deny  their  authority,  but  spoke  respectfully 
of  them. 

"  But  what  [said  he]  is  to  be  done  for  our  friends  in  Boston 
— the  friends  to  order  and  good  government — and  loyal  soldiery, 
that  are  supporting  the  rights  of  the  States  and  the  very  being 
of  the  Constitution,  who  are  starving  by  means  of  a  restrictory 
Act  ?"     '•  Why,  this,"  says  he,  "  I'll  do—" 

"  I'll  charter  Capt.  Thome's  sloop^  and  send  them  provi- 
sions," notwithstanding  an  order  of  the  honorable  Congress  to 
the  contrary. 

Mark  the  gradual  steps  of  this  gentleman  to  something  of 
more  alarming  dye:  for  things  were  no  sooner  ripe,  than  he 
attacks  the  honorable  Continental  Congress  itself  j  hence  'he 


50  RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 

has  openly  asserted  he  knew  no  such  s[eir  constituted  au]tho- 
rity,  and  declared  they  were  in  c[onsequence  unconstitutijonal. 

Not  content  with  dispersing  a  scandalous  libel ;  fabricating 
seditious  resolves ;  declaring  our  bleeding  friends  in  Boston 
the  aggressors ;  alarming  opposition  by  our  great  loss ;  dis- 
countenancing our  public  prints ,;  defaming  our  respectable 
committee  of  safety;  denying  the  authority  of  our  honorable 
Continental  Congress ;  but  [he]  begins  an  open  attack  on  our 
grand  resource,  the  continental  currency,  also. 

Hence  he  asserts,  "  I  take  no  continental  currency^  unless 
for  a  bad  debt :"  and  getting  one  of  these  bills  on  this  ground, 
expressed  his  uneasiness  to  pay  it  away  as  soon  as  possible. 
"  But  we  see  [you'll  say]  no  accounts  of  the  formation  of  com- 
mittees who  protested  against  your  spring  and  fall  county 
meetings  for  deputies.  We  see  no  proof  of  the  meeting  pre- 
vious to  their  getting  powder  from  the  Asia,  nor  any  of  the 
proscribed  being  concerned  in  that  affair."  Very  true;  for 
this  proof  is  not  in  our  power.  "  Why,  you  might  have  cited 
some  of  their  second  rate  leaders,  and  by  that  means  got  proof 
to  your  satisfaction."  What  effects  the.  solemnity  of  your 
honorable  body  might  have  on  them,  we  do  not  pretend  to  de- 
termine; but  we  have  tried  the  experiment  in  our  own  little 
sphere,  and  found  it  entirely  in  vain.  We  fear  you  are  tired 
through  this  long  detail. 

So  con[scious  of  the  importance  of  the  subject,  we  are]  de- 
termined to  persevere  [in  the  discharge  of  our  duties.] 
We  are,  sir, 

Your  very  humble  servants. 
Signed  by  order, 

BEN  J.  SANDS,  Chairman. 

P.  S.     We   have   cited ,  Esq.,  an  inactive 

Whig,  for  interrogation,  who  evaded  attendance  on  pretence 
of  business.  Wc  suspect  him  too  good  an  evidence  to  escape 
your  notice,  as  well  as  to  convince  him  that  all  business  must 
bend  to  the  preservation  of  his  country. 

To  Col.  Nath'l  Woodhull, 

President  of  the  Hon.  Provincial  Congress. 

*  Witness — Dan'l  Whitehead  Kissam,  of  Cow  Neck. 

•  WitncM— John  Burtis,  tanaer,  of  Cow  Neck. 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  51 

■*  Witness — Henry  Stocker,  Capt.  Richard  Tliorne,  of  Great  Neck. 
*^\Vitness — Obacliah  Demilt,  of  Cow  Neck. 
*  Wifness — Ann  Rapalje.of  Cow  Neck. 
^  Witness — John  Burtis,  tanner. 
'  Witness — Caleb  Cornwell,  Cow  Neck. 

8  Witness— Rich'd  Thorne,  Capt.  Thomas  Williams,  North  Side. 
^  Witness — Henry  Stocker,  Great  Neck ;  Thomas  Williams,  North 
Side. 

40.  February  18,  '76.  A  circular  letter  was  sent  to  the 
counties  for  raising  companies  in  four  regiments,  for  tiie  de- 
fence of  the  colony,  by  order  of  the  Continental  Congress. 

March  5.  Congress  took  into  consideration  the  state  of 
the  militia  in  Queens  county,  and  determined  that  it  would 
be  requisite  to  have  the  friends  to  the  liberties  of  their 
country  there  properly  regimented,  and  a  letter  was  sent  to 
Col.  Black  well. 

In  Provincial  Congress^  March  7,  '76. 

Gentlemen  :  The  Congress  being  of  opinion  that  it  is  ab- 
solutely necessary  that  the  inhabitants  of  your  county,  who 
have  signed  the  association,  and  are  friendly  to  the  liberties  of 
their  country,  should  be  formed  into  military  companies  and 
regimented,  and  be  in  a  capacity  of  defending  themselves  if 
attacked;  (and  being  informed  that  they  have  appointed  a 
county  committee,  and  likewise  that  committees  are  chosen  in 
several  districts  in  your  county.)  that  they  carry  the  resolves  of 
Congress  for  regulating  the  militia  into  execution,  and  recom- 
mend suitable  men  for  field  officers. 

The  very  great  importance  of  the  rights  for  which  we  are 
contending,  the  situation  of  our  pubhc  affairs,  and  the  great 
probability  that  the  enemy  will  endeavor  to  get  possession  of 
this  colony  in  the  course  of  the  spring,  renders  it  totally  unne- 
cessary for  us  to  use  any  arguments  with  you  on  the  subject. 
"We  doubt  not  you  will  exert  yourselves  to  have  these  matters 
settled  with  all  possible  despatch  in  your  county. 
Your  humble  servant. 

NATH'L  WOODHULL,  Pres. 

41.  March  6,  '76.     Gen.  Lee  sent  Col.  Ward  to  secure 


52  RISE   AND    PROGRESS    OF 

the  whole  body  of  tories  on  Long  Island,  in  order  to  put  the 
city  and  its  environs  in  a  state  of  defence. 

On  the  12lh,  Daniel  Whitehead  Kissam,  one  of  the  com- 
mittee of  Great  Neck,  Cow  Neck,  &c.,  waited  on  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  and  complained  of  Isaac  Seers  for  intruding 
into  their  district,  and  imposing  a  test  on  sundry  persons. 

Seers  sent  to  the  Congress  the  following  letter  from  Gen. 
Lee,  as  a  justification  of  his  conduct : 

New-  York,  March  5,  '76. 

Sir  :  As  I  have  received  information  from  the  Commander- 
in-Chief  that  there  is  reason  soon  to  expect  a  very  considerable 
army  of  the  enemy,  it  appears  to  me  I  should  be  in  the  highest 
degree  culpable — I  should  be  responsible  to  God,  my  own  con- 
science, and  the  Continental  Congress  of  America,  in  suffering, 
at  so  dangerous  a  crisis,  a  knot  of  professed  foes  to  American 
liberty  to  remain  any  longer  within  our  own  bosom,  either  to  turn 
openly  against  us  in  arms,  in  conjunction  w^ith  the  enemy,  or 
covertly  to  furnish  them  with  intelligence,  and  carry  on  a  cor- 
respondence to  the  ruin  of  their  country,  I  must  desire  you 
will  offer  a  copy  of  this  test,  enclosed,  to  the  people  of  whom  I 
send  you  a  list.  Their  refusal  must  be  considered  an  avowal 
of  their  hostile  intentions. 

You  are,  therefore  to  secure  their  persons,  and  send  them 
up  without  loss  of  time,  as  irreclaimable  enemies  to  their 
country,  to  close  custody  in  Connecticut. 

Richard  Hulet  is  to  have  no  conditions  offered  to  him,  but 
to  be  secured  without  ceremony. 

CHA'S  LEE,  Maj.  Gen. 

Seers'  Expedition  on  Long  Island. 

Jamaica,  March  7,  '76. 
Sir:  Yesterday  I  arrived  at  Newtown,  with  a  captain's 
company,  and  tendered  the  oath  to  four  of  the  greater  tories, 
which  they  swallowed  as  hard  as  if  it  were  a  41b.  shot  they  were 
trying  to  get  down.  On  this  day  at  11  o'clock,  I  came  here, 
when  I  sent  out  scouting  parties,  and  have  been  able  to  catch 
but  five  tories,  and  tliey  of  the  first  rank,  who  swallowed  the 
oath.     The  houses  arc  so  scattered,  it  is  impossible  to  catch 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  53 

many,  without  horses  to  ride  after  them ;  but  I  shall  exert  my- 
self to  catch  the  greatest  part  of  the  ringleaders,  and  believe  I 
shall  effect  it  but  not  in  less  than  five  days.  I  can  assure  your 
honor,  there  are  a  set  of  villains  in  this  county,  the  better  half 
of  whom  are  waiting  for  support,  and  intend  to  take  up  arms. 
Nothing  else  will  do  but  removing  the  ringleaders  to  a  place 
of  security. 

Lieut.  Col.  ISAAC  SEERS,  Dep.  Ad.  Gen. 
To  Gen.  Lee. 

42.  March  13,  1776. — Congress  had  issued  an  order  to 
the  committee  of  Cow  and  Great  Neck  for  six  horsemen  from 
Queens  county,  to  keep  a  lookout  at  Thomas  Cornwell's,  at 
Rockaway. 

Congress  also  stationed  troops  on  the  coast  and  beach,  and 
armed  vessels  at  the  inlets  of  the  south  bays,  to  intercept 
boats  supplying  the  British  fleet  off  the  Highlands  with 
clams,  fish,  water  and  fresh  provisions.  The  Queens  county 
committee  ordered  all  boats  from  Rockaway  to  Hufltington, 
eighteen  miles,  to  be  secured  and  put- under  guards.  Seven 
miles  were  carefully  attended  to  by  Capt.  B.  Birdsall,*  who 
seized  106  hay  boats  and  had  them  hauled  up,  some  in  a 
creek  by  his  house,  (now  Meinell's,)  others  on  the  land,  where 
they  warped  and  dried  so  as  to  be  nearly  useless.  The  other 
eleven  miles  were  rather  neglected,  so  that  the  delinquents 
carried  off  to  the  British  fleet  100  boats. 

•  So  active  a  partisan  as  Col.  Birdsall,  could  not  escape  the  wit  and 
sarcasm  of  his  opponents. 

Ben    Bircham  's  a  committee  man, 
The  lories  don't  regard  him  ; 
And  when  he's  run  his  sinfnl  race 
The  d — 1  will  rfvvind  him. 
Ben  Birchnm  is  a  commit'ce  man, 
Do  you  want  to  know  the  reasnn  ? 
A  higger  ro-iue  cannot  be  found 
To  cheat,  when  there's  ocasion. 

In  Committee,  for  the  Dist.  of  Great  Neck,  Cow  Neck,  &c., 
held  at  Cow  Neck,  March  18,  1776. 

43.  Whereas  sundry  disaffected  persons  have  moved  into 
this  neighborhood,  whereby  the  district,  instead  of  an  asylum 


54  RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 

for  the  good  and  virtuous,  is  become  a  nest  to  those  noxious 
vermin ;  it  has  become  the  part  of  prudence,  and  in  its  effects, 
of  necessity,  to  put  an  end  to  such  proceedings  in  future  by  the 
most  speedy  and  effectual  measures  for  the  public  good.  Be 
it  therefore 

.  Resolved^  That  no  manner  of  person  presume  to  move  into 
this  district  after  the  1st  of  April  next,  without  a  certificate 
signed  by  the  chairman  of  the  committee  of  the  district  whence 
he  removed,  that  he  is  friendly  to  the  cause  of  his  bleeding 
country.  BENJ.  SANDS,   Ch'n. 

In  Com.  for  the  Dist.  of  Great  Neck,  Cow  Neck,  &c.,  held  at 
Cow  Neck,  March  27,  1776. 
44.  Whereas  I R ,  one  of  the  disarmed  in  this  dis- 
trict, being  since  charged  with  counteractmg  the  measures  for 
the  preservation  of  American  liberty,  on  examination  the  com- 
plaint appeared  founded  ;  and  it  was  therefore  the  opinion  of 
this  committee  that  he  should  be  held  in  bond  for  his  good 
behavior,  but  on  resistance  of  this  order  it  became  the  part  of 
expediency  to  reprobate  .this  vile  man  as  an  enemy  to  his 
country  and  unworthy  of  the  least  protection,  and  we  do  hereby 
strictly  enjoin  all  manner  of  persons  in  this  district  immediately 
to  break  off  every  kind  of  civil,  mechanical  and  commercial 
intercourse  with  this  deluded  and  obstniate  person,  as  they 
will  answer  for  the  contrary  at  their  peril. 

BENJ.  SANDS,  Ch'n.    - 

45.  March  27.  The  Continental  Congress  recommended 
to  the  committee  of  safety  that  all  who  were  disaflected  and 
refused  to  associate  to  defend  by  arms  the  United  Colonies 
against  the  hostile  attempts  of  the  British  fleets  and  armies, 
should  be  disarmed,  the  arms  appraised  and  given  to  the 
Continental  troops  now  being  raised ;  but  that  they  should 
use  all  prudence  and  moderation. 

46.  An  association  of  a  company  of  forty  in  Jamaica  was 
received  from  Joseph  Robinson  and  Nathaniel  Tuthill,  dated 
March  27. 

Ephraim  Baylis,  Capt.  ;    Increase  Carpenter,  1st  Lt.  \  Ab'm 
Van  Osdoll,  2d  Lt.;  Othnicl  Smith,  Ensign. 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT-  55 

47.  April  25,  1776.  Last  Saturday  the  James,  pilot  boat, 
one  of  the  piratical  tenders  that  infest  this  coast,  came  into 
Rockaway  Inlet  for  plunder,  but  got  aground.  A  party  of 
American  troops  receiving  information  of  it,  marched  with 
two  field-pieces  to  attack  her,  but  on  the  appearance  of  our 
men  her  hands  took  the  long  boat  and  fled.  Our  men  took 
possession,  and  found  four  wooden  guns  mounted,  got  her  oflT 
and  brought  her  into  safe  harbor. — Hartford  Courant. 
48.   Petition  to  Provincial  Congress. 

Jamaica,  L.  I.,  April  13,  1776. 

Gentlemen — We,  the  subscribers,  inhabitants  of  the 
township  of  Jamaica,  heg  leave  to  acquaint  you  that  we  have 
heretofore  been  disarmed  by  order  of  the  Continental  Congress, 
which  we  peaceably  and  quietly  submitted  to,  as  not  having  it 
in  our  intention  to  act  contrary  to  their  resolves,  or  the 
resolves  of  your  Congress;  notwithstanding  which,  we  have 
lately  been  plundered  of  our  cattle  and  effects,  which  have 
been  publicly  sold  at  vendue  for  half  their  value,  in  conse- 
quence of  an  order  of  Capt.  Ephraim  Bailey,  for  not  appearing 
in  arms  and  answering  to  our  names,  when  it  is  well  known  we 
have  been  deprived  of  our  arms,  and  thereby  disqualified  from 
any  such  service  ;  besides  which  it  appears  to  us  quite  contrary 
to  a  late  resolve  of  the  Continental  Congress. 

We,  therefore,  gentlemen,  request  it  as  a  favor,  that  you 
will  be  pleased  to  take  this  matter  into  your  serious  considera- 
tion, and  if  the  treatment  we  have  received  does  not  proceed 
from  any  order  or  direction  of  yours,  that  you  will  be  pleased 
to  give  us  such  reUef  as  you  may  think  necessary.  In  which, 
gentlemen,  you  will  oblige  your  respectful,  humble  servants. 
("12  names  omitted.) 
Advertisement  of  Jive  Delinquents. 

(Five  names  omitted.),  of  Jamaica,  having  thrice  neglected  to  attend 
the  times  and  places  appointed  for  military  exerciSe,  and  having  for  iheir 
non-attendance  been  three  times  successively  fined,  are  hereby  adveriised 
and  held  up  as  enemies  to  their  country. 

KPHRAIM  BAILEY,  Capt. 

49,  April  IG,  1776.  An  election  was  held  in  Queens 
county,  when  the  following  Deputies  (or  any  three  of  them) 


56  RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 

were  elected  to  represent  the  county  in  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress, viz. : 

Jacob  Blackwell,  N.  Samuel  Tovvnend,  Esq.,  O. 

Jona.  Lawrence,  N.  James  Tovvnsend,  O. 

Cor's  Van  Wyck,  Success,    Thomas  Hycks,  Esq.,  F. 

Waters  Smith,  J.  Capt.  John  Williams,  N.  Side. 

Certificate  of  election  signed  by  Geo.  Townsend,  Chair- 
man of  Queens  county  committee. 

Only  two  appearing  in  Congress,  the  rest  were  ordered 
to  attend  and  take  their  seats,  or  show  cause  of  their  neglect. 

Queens  County,  Hempstead,  (North  Side,)  May  27,  1776. 

I  received  your  letter,  bearing  date  the  21st  inst  ,  which  requires  me 
to  give  my  attendance  ;  to  which  I  send  you  these  lines,  desiring  to  be 
excused,  as  I  am  so  little  acquainted  with  such  business  that  I  should  be 
of  no  service,  but  remain  your  hearty  friend  in  the  American  cause, 

To  the  Congress,  New-York.  JOHN   WILLIAMS. 

Hicks  excused  himself  on  the  ill  state  of  his  health  and  the  extreme 
weakness  of  his  constitution,  which  renders  him  utterly  incapable  of  per- 
forming the  duties  of  a  Deputy. 
The  remaining  Deputies  appeared. 

Jamaica,  April  26,  1776. 

50.  At  a  meeting  of  the  committee  of  correspondence 
and  inspection  for  the  township  of  Jamaica : 

Whereas  this  town  has,  for  some  time  past,  been  desti- 
tute of  a  committee. 

Resolved,  therefore,  that  this  public  notice  be  given,  that  there  is 
now  a  committee  chosen  for  the  same,  and  as  they  are  desirous  of  carry- 
ing mto  execution,  as  far  as  in  them  lies,  the  resolutions  and  recommenda- 
tions of  the  Continental  and  Provincial  Congresses,  they  earnestly  entreat 
all  friends  to  American  liberty  in  this  tow»  to  aid  and  assist  them  in  the 
trust  reposed  in  iheni  ;  and  should  any  of  the  ofHcers  serving  under  Con- 
gress within  their  district  meet  with  any  insults  or  obstructions  in  the 
execution  of  iheir  ofTu-e,  they  desire  tu  be  made  acquainted  llierewiih,  as 
they  shall  look   upon   any  indignity  offered  to  such  officers  as  directed 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  57 

against  that  power  from  whence   their  authority  is  derived,  and  shall 
treat  such  offenders  accordingly.     By  order  of  the  Commitiee. 

ELIAS  BAYLIS,  Clin. 

51.  May  8.  Thomas  Mitchell  appeared  before  the  Con- 
gress, was  sworn,  and  says,  that  "  Capt.  John  Sands  (agree- 
able to  the  resolutions  of  the  Congress)  has  called  out  his 
company  once  a  month  to  muster ;  that  W.,  of  Cow  Neck, 
felt  maker,  on  two  different  days  of  training,  would  not  an- 
swer to  his  name,  nor  appear  in  the  ranks.  Capt.  Sands 
levied  a  fine  for  each  neglect,  and  W.  applied  to  a  magis- 
trate to  have  a  suit  brought  against  Sands  to  recover  back 
the  fines.  Sands  had  seized  and  sold,  for  thirty  shillings,  a  hat 
worth  fifty  shillings.  On  Saturday,  May  4,  the  company  was 
again  called  out — W.  was  there,  and  refused  to  answer 
to  his  name  or  train.  On  Saturday,  when  he  was  called,  he 
went  up  to  Capt.  Sands  and  spoke  to  him  in  an  abrupt  man- 
ner, and  about  half  an  hour  after  abused  the  Captain  very 
much,  and  challenged  him  to  fight  with  sword  and  pistol. 
Some  days  before  this,  W.  had  challenged  Sands,  and  Sands 
told  him  he  ought  to  apply  to  the  committee  if  he  thought 
himself  aggrieved.  W.  said  he  knew  no  committee,  and 
would  apply  to  a  magistrate.  That  Capt.  Sands  sent  W., 
under  guard,  to  Queens  county  jail.  The  jailer,  Hope 
Mills,  said  he  was  not  the  jailer  for  the  Congress,  and  had 
no  right  to  keep  him  ;  and  applied  to  Thomas  Willets, 
sheriff,  who  directed  him  not  to  retain  the  prisoner  without 
a  warrant  from  a  magistrate.  W.  threatens  to  prosecute 
the  whole  guard." 

The  Congress  ordered  Capt.  Sands  to  apprehend  W., 
and  send  him  to  New-York  with  all  convenient  speed,  to  be 
dealt  with  as  Congress  may  think  proper. 

May  1.  W.  was  brought  under  guard,  and  says,  "  on 
the  first  day  he  appeared  without  arms  ;  on  the  second,  he 
told  Capt.  Sands  he  had  no  right  to  call  on  him  under  arms; 
on  the  third,  he  had  determined  not  to  insult  Sands  in  the  ex- 


58 


RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 


ecution  of  his  office,  but  Sands  affronled  him  by  calling  him 
a  fellow.  That  in  the  interval,  he  had  called  on  Sands  for 
satisfaction,  who  told  him  he  should  have  it.  He  thought 
Sands'  answer  entitled  him  to  propose  a  sword  and  a  small 
thing  that  would  speak.  That  he  had  no  arms  when  Col. 
Heard  called  on  him  ;  told  Heard  he  voted  against  deputies. 
Is  willing  to  bear  arms,  if  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Congress." 

It  was  moved  that  W.  be  committed  to  Queens  county- 
jail.  Debates  arose,  and  it  was  carried,  10  to  7.  A  warrant 
was  made  out,  and  the  jailer  was  ordered  to  keep  W.  safely 
in  the  common  jail,  at  his  own  expense,  till  the  further  order 
of  Congress. 

Having  petitioned,  and  made  submission  for  his  past  of- 
fences, W.  was  discharged,  June  11. 

52.  A  Training  List  of  the  Officers  and  Men  in  the  Dis- 
trict of  Cow  Neck,  Great  Neck,  <^c.  : 


Capt.  John  Sands, 
1st  Lt.  Thomas  Mitchell, 
2(1  Lt.  Aspinwdll  Cornwell, 
Ensign  Andrew  Onderdonk, 
Richard  Manee,  Sergeant. 
Wm.  Hutchings,       " 
Joseph  Akerly,         " 
W.  Hicks, 

Steph.  Coles, 

Daniel  Mudge, 

Charles  Loosley,  sick. 

Thos.  Elms,  no  arms. 

Gab.  Lawrence, 


Joshua  Willis, 
John  Rogers, 
David  Doty, 
Caleb  Kirby, 
Jona.  Mott— 10. 
Edward  Penny, jr. 


Peter  Lombard  e, 
Daniel  Ireland, 
W.  Fowler, 
W.  V^alentine, 
Jacob  Bumstead, 
W.  Ryan— 20. 
John  Law, 
John  Scultop, 
Wilson  Williams, 
Henry  Onderdonk, jr, 
Thomas  Appleby,  jr. 


Daniel  Shaffer,  no  arms,  James  Harris, 
Robert  Wilson,  Joseph  Sniffm, 

Henry  Craft,  Hend'k  Vanderbelt 


Hosea  Hauxhurst,  Corporal. 

Austin  Mitchell,  " 

And'w  Onderdonk,      " 

Jona.  Hutchings,  " 

Stephen  Cornwell,  Clerk. 

Music,  John  W^haley,  Drummer, 
Charles  Slubbs,  Fif  r, 
"        Gregory  Ritchie,  Hautboy, 
Elbert  Hegeman, 
Ne'bry.  Davenport — 30. 
John  Burtis,  jr. 
John  Hutchings, 
Stephen  Hutchings, 
Israel  Rogers,* 
Benj.  Sands, 
John  Kissam,* 
Daniel  Kissam, 
Elbert  Hyman, 
Andrew  Hegeman.t 
Daniel  Rapelyee, 
W.  Dodge— 40. 
Caleb  Cornwell, 


THE   TIEVOLUTIONARY    SPIKIT. 


59 


Ed.  Thome, 
Peter  Dodge, 
Ed.  Sands, 
John  Stocker, 
Seaman  Weeks, 
Samuel  Barker, 
Thomas  Carpenter, 
W.  Dnnford, 
Ed.  Hicks— 50. 
Stephen  T  home,  jr. 
Philip  Thome, 
Richard  Thome, 
Christopher  Hertang, 
Jona.  Sniffin, 
Hewlett  Comwell, 
Lewis  Comwell, 
Samuel  Comwell, 
Samuel  .Tacobs, 
Benj.  Sands— 60. 
Henry  Sands, 
Edwin  Sands, 
Lawrence  Marstin, 
W.  Baker, 
Thomas  Francis, 
John  Keys, 
W.  Baker, 
John  Thompson, 


Denton  Duzenbury, 
John  Mitchell, 
Benj.  Kissam, 
W.  Drawer, 
W.Doty, 
Nath'l  Smith, 
Reuben  Rogers — 80 
Samuel  Clayton, 
W.  Hutcliings, 
W.  Akerly, 
Joseph  Thorne, 
Solomon  Southard, t 
John  Sterkings, 
Amos  Thorne, 
Thomas  Thorne, t 
Richard  Thorne.t 
John  Burtis— 90. 
James  Burr, 
Thomas  Woolly, 
W.Smith, 
Thomas  Shreaves, 
Geo.  Rapelyee, 
Daniel  BrinckerhofT, 
Hend'k  BrinckerhofT, 
Joseph  Waldron,* 
John  Gilbert, 
John  Searing — 100. 


Joseph  Dodge,t  no  arms,Stephen  Hicks, 
R.Sultont — 70,  no  arms  Oliver  Lawrence, 
John  Bashford,  David  David, 

Jacob  Jacobs,  John  Thorne, 

Israel  Baxter,  John  Allen, 


Adam  Molt,* 
Stephen  Mott,* 
John  Motf,« 
Robert  Mitchell, 
Charles  Comwell, 
*  Not  appeared. 


List  of  Quakers. 
Israel  Pearsall,* 
John  Allen, 
James  Mott, 
Samuel  Mott, 
Henry  Mott, 


Jnmes  Allen, 
John  Valla  nee, 
Henry  Allen, 
George  Hewlett, 
Philip  Woolly,* 
Samuel  Woolly t— 110. 
Laurence  Hewlett, 
John  Tredwell, 
Daniel  Kissam,t 
John  Pearson, 
John  Morrell,  jr. 
Thomas  Smiih,t 
W.  Smith, 
Henry  Hauxhurst, 
Peter  Monfort— 120 
Elijah  Allen, 
Samuel  Hutchings,t 
W.  Thorne, 
Richard  Thorne,  jr. 
Samuel  Hicks, 
Charles  Hicks, 
John  Clement, 
George  Comwell, 
Sam'l  Molt  Comwell, 
Sam'l  Tredwell, 
Gilbert  Comwell— 130. 
Robert  Peter.t 
Richard  Valentine, 
John  Frits, 
Joseph  Kissam,t 
Abm.  Brass  * 
Nathaniel  Brass — 135 


Richard  Sands, 
Obadiah  Demilt, 
Richard  Kirk, 
James  Mitchell, 


t  Erased. 


CO  RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 

53.  May  10.  Charles  Friend,  button  maker,  of  West- 
bury,  appeared  before  Congress,  and  gave  information  of  the 
existence  of  a  gang  of  counterfeiters  of  the  continental  cur- 
rency, at  the  house  of  one  Youngs,  at  Cold  Spring.  Capt. 
Wool  was  sent  to  apprehend  them.  He  reached  the  house 
at  day-break,  set  a  guard  around  it,  and  after  searching  under 
the  bed,  in  a  secret  closet,  and  in  a  very  concealed  garret, 
he  found  engraving  tools,  copperplates,  a  printing  press,  four 
kinds  of  ink,  note  paper,  and  £30  12s.  in  cash.  All  was 
put  in  a  wagon,  and  conveyed  with  the  prisoners  to  the  city. 

Congress,  considering  the  fidelity  and  poverty  of  Charles 
Friend,  paid  all  his  expenses,  and  gave  him  a  reward  of  $20. 

54.  May  10.  Ordered,  That  Mr.  Tredwell,  of  Suffolk, 
draft  a  letter  to  Queens  county  committee,  recommending 
them  to  form  and  regulate  the  militia  without  delay. 

Memorandum  of  the  Militia  Companies  in  Queens  County,  1776. 
Col.  John  Sands,  Commission  dated  June  10,1776. 

Lt.  Col.  Benj.  Birdsall,  do.  do. 

Major  Richard  Thorne,  do.  do. 

Major  John  Hendrickson,  do.  do. 

South  Hempstead. 

Foster's  Meadow  Company,  98  men  ;  officers,  none. 

Far  Rockaway  Company,  90  men  ;  Peter  Smith,  Captain  ;  Benjamin 
Cornell,  Lieutenant. 

South  Hempstead  Company,  110  men  ;  officers,  none. 

Jerusalem  Company,  85  men;  Richard  Jackson,  Captain;  Zebn. 
Seaman,  Lieutenant. 

Oyster  Bay. 

Moscheto  Cove  Company,  90  men  ;  Daniel  Cock,  Captain  ; 

Lattin,  Lieutenant. 

Wolver  Hollow  Company,  80  men  ;  David  Laton,  Captain  ;  Rem 
Hegeman,  Lieutenant ;  John  Schenck,  2d  Lieutenant. 

Oysier  Bay  Company,  140  men  ;  John  W.  Seaman,  Captain  ;  Peter 
Hegeman,  Lieutenant  ;  John  Townsend,  2d  Lieutenant. 

East  Wood's  Company,  83  men  ;  Person  Brush,  Lieutenant ;  Gabriel 
Duryea,  Ensiga. 


THE    KEVOLUTIOxXARY    SPIRIT. 


61 


North  Hempstead. 

North  Side  Company,  120  men  ;  Philip  Valentine,  Captain  ;  Coe 
Searing,  2d  Lieutenant. 

Cow  and  Great  Neck  Company,  130  men  ;  Andrew  Onderdonk, 
Ensign. 

Total,  1028  men. 

A  Return  of  the  number  of  men  in  Queens  County,  subject  to  bear  arms 
in  the  different  Companies. 

Capt.  John  Skidmore's  Company  of  Minute  men,  .  53 

Ephraim  Bayles,  ....  93 

Abraham  Remsen,  ....  86 

Jonathan  Lawrence,  ....  107 

Abraham  Ditmis,  ....  78 

Richard  Lawrence,  (Light  Horse,)  .  .  44 

Nathaniel  Tom,  ....  160—  626 

Robert  Coles,        .....  99 

Col.  John  Sands'  Company,       ....  142 

Capt.  John  Williams  Seaman,    ....  130 

David  Laton,        .....  88 

Daniel  V.Nostrand,  ....  108 

Peter  Nostrand,  ....  470 

Philip  Valentine,  ....  107—1144 

1770 
Eastern  parish,  112  men. 

We  are  to  appear  at  the  house  of  Samuel  Nichols  on  Wednesday, 
19th  June,  at  10  o'clock,  forenoon,  1776. 

An  imperfect  List  of  Officers  of  Militia  Companies  in  Queens  County, 
besides  those  elsewhere  noticed. 
Flushing. 
June  10,16.  31ay20,'75. 

1st  Lieut.  John  Roberts.  Capt.  Nathaniel  Tom. 

2d  Lieut.  Oliver  Thorne.*  1st  Lieut.  Matthias  Van  Dyck. 

Ensign  Isaac  Hicks.  2d  Lieut.  Jeffrey  Hicks. 

Ensign  Nich.  Van  Dyck. 
*  In  room  of  .Tef.  Hicks,  entered  Continental  service. 

Newtown. — South  Beat. 
April  17,  1776.  June,  '76. 

Capt.  Benj.  Coe. 
1st  Lieut.  Robt.  Furman. 
2d  Lieut.  Benj.  North. 
Ensign  Jonah  Hallet. 
4 


Capt.  Abm.  Remsen. 
1st  Lieut.  Benj.  Coe. 
2d  Lieut.  Robt.  Furman. 
Ensign  Benj.  North. 


62  KISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 

North  Beat. 
Capt.  Jona.  Lawrence  * 
1st  Lieut.  Wm.  Sackett. 
2d  Lieut.  Wm.  Lawrence.t 
Ensign  Jesse  Warner. 

Horse,     .^ug. 21/16. 
Capt.  Rich.  Lawrence.  Capt.  Dan.  Lawrence.t 

1st  Lieut.  Daniel  Lawrence.  1st  Lieut.  Saml.  Riker. 

2d  Lieut.  Samuel  Riker.  2d  Lieut.  Jona.  Lawrence. 

Cornet  Jona.  Coe.  Cornet  Thos.  Belts. 

Quarter  Master  Peter  Rapelye. 

Capt.  Abm.  Riker,  July,  1776. 

*  Chosen  Major,  August  10,  '76. 

t  Chosen  Captain,  August  10,  '76. 

t  In  place  of  Richard  Lawrence,  resigned  from  infirmity. 
Jamaica. — July  26,  '76. 

Capt.  Wm.  Ludlum.*  2d  Lieut.  Nich.  Everitt. 

1st.  Lieut.  Jacob  Wright.  Ensign  Ephraim  Marston.t 

*  In  place  of  John  J.  Skidmore,  promoted  to  a  Majority. 

t  Killed  by  Indians  at  Minisinka — See  monument  at  Goshen. 

Musquito  Cove. — June  15,  76. 
Capt.  Daniel  Cock.  2d  Lieut.  Wm.  Frost. 

1st  Lieut.  Robert  Cole.*  Ensign  Wright  Craft. 

*  "  Stout,  handsome  young  fellow." — Scott. 

Oyster  Bay.— July  22,  '76. 
Capt.  Daniel  Nostrand.  1st  Lieut.  Jacob  Totten. 

July  29,  '76. 
Capt.  Samuel  Green.*  2d  Lieut.  Peter  Thomas. 

1st  Lieut.  Thos.  Ellison.  Ensign  Solomon  Seaman. 

July  13,  '76. 
Capt.  Richard  .Tackson.t  2d  Lieut.  John  Lewis. 

1st  Lieut.  Zebulon  Seaman.  Ensign  Smith  Brush. 

»  Late  Capt.  Carman's  company, 
t  Late  Capt.  John  Birdsall's  company. 

55.  Congress  ordered  that  all  able  bodied  men,  between 
sixteen  and  fifty,  who  had  left  the  city,  return  with  arms  and 
accoutrements,  as  by  their  absence  its  strength  and  power 
of  defence  was  weakened. 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  63 

56.  In  Committee,  Jamaica,  Mya  15,  '76  : 

Resolved,  Tliat  no  person  be  permitted  to  move  into  this 
township  from  the  date  hereof,  unless  he  produces  a  certificate 
from  the  committee  where  he  resided,  that  he  has  in  all  things 
behaved  as  a  friend  to  the  cause  of  American  freedom.  And 
whereas,  sundry  persons,  in  passing  and  repassing  through 
this  town,  have  given  just  cause  of  suspicion  that  they  are 
employed  in  aiding  and  assisting  the  unnatural  enemies  of 
America:  Therefore, 

Resolved   and    Ordered^    That   all   such   persons   passing 
through  this  township,  be  taken  up  for  examination. 
By  order  of  the  Committee, 

ELIAS  BAYLES,  Chairman. 

[The  Flushing  committee  was  not  idle  either:  for  after  Washington 
reached  New-York,  there  was  talk  of  leaving  out  the  prayers  for  the  King, 
when  the  Rev.  C.  Inglis,  of  Trinity  Church,  found  it  necessary  to  retire 
to  Flushing  ;  but  he  had  no  sooner  reached  there,  than  the  committee 
met  and  entered  into  a  debate  aiiout  seizing  him.  This  obliged  him  to 
shift  his  quarters  and  keep  himself  as  private  as  possible  till  Aug.  27. — Ed.^ 

57.  John  Livingston,  Jr.,  had  a  furlough  for  eight  days' 
absence,  but  on  being  questioned  by  the  Jamaica  committee, 
he  refused  either  to  show  his  furlough  or  return  to  New- 
York.  He,  with  his  barber,  was  seized  by  Capt.  Baylis,  of 
the  minute  men,  who  delivered  him  with  the  following  letter, 
to  Lieut.  Col.  Corn  well,*  who  was  returning  to  New-York 
from  an  excursion  to  Hempstead,  by  order  of  Gen.  Putnam. 

In  Committee  for  the  District  of  Jamaica,  } 
May  31,  1776.  '  5 
Gentlemen  :  In  consequence  of  a  resolve  of  the  Provincial 
Congress  respecting  the  returning  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  city 
of  New- York,  who  left  the  same  since  the  first  of  June  last, 
this  committee  gave  personal  notice  to  all  such  persons  as  had 
moved  into  this  district,  requesting  them  to  comply  with  the 
said  resolve,  limiting  them  to  what  this  committee  thought  a 
reasonable  time  ;  and  as  many  of  them,  at  the  expiration  of 
the  time  limited,  had  not  satisfied  this  committee  in  their  leave 
of  absence  from  the  said  city,  therefore  we  send  such  of  those 


64  RISE    AND    PROGREtiS    OF 

persons  down  to  the  city  as  we  can  get  the  others  keeping 
themselves  concealed.  But  before  this  method  was  taken, 
public  notice  was  again  given,  by  advertisement,  requesting 
them  to  satisfy  this  committee  of  the  reasons  of  their  non-com- 
pliance— which  they  have  not  done. 
By  order  of  the  Committee, 

ELIAS  BAYLES,   Chairman. 
P.  S.     The  committee  are  of  opinion  that  John  Livingston, 
Jr.,  ought  to  be  kept  in  custody  till  he  produce  one  Smith,  his 
hostler,  who  is  kept  secreted  by  Livingston's  family. 

[The  Congress  did  not  tamely  pass  over  this  insult  to  the 
Jamaica  committee,  but  resolved  that  John  Livingston,  jr. 
had  treated  the  Jamaica  committee  with  contempt,  and  that 
they  did  right  in  sending  him  down,  and  that  he  ought  humbly 
to  ask  pardon.     On  his  declining,  he  was  sent  to  jail. — Ed.^ 

*  There  was  a  Lieut.  Col.  Cornwell  in  the  Rhode  Island  Regiment  at 
Brooklyn. 

58.  May  28.  Congress  are  informed  that  Capt.  Baylis' 
company  of  militia  and  some  of  the  minute  men  in  Jamaica, 
stand  in  great  need  of  gunpowder.  Ordered,  That  100 
pounds  be  delivered  to  Capt.  Baylis  and  his  receipt  taken  : 
and  that  the  committee  distribute  the  powder  to  those  well 
affected  to  the  American  cause. 

59.  Capt.  Abm.  Remsen  brought  before  the  Congress  J. 
]\L,  Jr.,  charged  by  the  committee  of  Newtown  (on  complaint 
of  Waters  Smith  and  Capt.  Nathaniel  Woodward),  with  offer- 
ing a  fresh  insult  to  the  United  Colonies,  in  allowing  a  largo 
flag,  in  imitation  of  a  King's  standard,  to  be  hoisted  on  his 
ground.  Moore's  excuse  was  that  the  school  boys  liad  done 
it,  and  that  as  children  put  up  the  colors,  he  did  not  think 
men  would  notice  it.  Being  asked  if  ho  would  defend  the 
colonies  by  force  of  arms,  he  said  he  did  not  clioose  to  fight 
if  he  could  avoid  it,  and  would  avoid  it  as  long  as  lie  could. 

Ordered,  That  J.  M.,  Jr.,  be  kept  a  prisoner  on  parole, 
and  attend  the  City  Hall  from  day  to  day. 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  65 

60.  June  5.  "  Whereas  a  hostile  armament  is  expected 
here, 

"  Resolved,  That  the  following  persons  in  Queens  county, 
(9  names  omitted,)  whose  conduct  is  inimical  to  the  cause  and 
rights  of  America,  and  who  if  summoned,  would  not  appear, 
be  arrested  ;  and  that  the  following  persons  (3  names  omitted) 
be  summoned,  and  in  default  of  their  appearance,  be  also  ar- 
rested. 

'-  Whereas  the  following  persons  (26  names  ommiited)  in 
Queens  county,  holding  offices  from  the  King  of  Great  Bri- 
tain, and  refusing  to  associate  with  their  fellow-citizens  in 
defence  of  their  common  rights,  have  been  considered  in  a 
suspicious  light. 

"  Resolved,  That  they  be  required  to  appear  before  a  com- 
mittee, by  arrest  or  summons,  to  show  cause  why  they  should 
be  considered  friends  to  the  American  cause." 

[Some  of  the  above  not  being  able  to  give  a  satisfactory 
account  of  their  conduct,  were  sent  to  the  jails  of  Connecti- 
cut, others  gave  bonds  and  were  paroled.* — Ed.'\ 

"  *  Capt.  A.  Hamihon,  attending  on  the  summons  returnable  here  this 
day,  was  called  in.  The  Chairman  informed  him  of  the  resolutions  of 
Congress  relative  to  persons  of  equivocal  character,  and  that  it  is  highly 
necessary  in  these  times  of  trouble  to  know  who  are  our  friends,  and  who 
foes. 

"  Mr.  Hamilton  says,  *  He  has  fought  and  bled  and  been  in  irons  for 
America,  that  it  is  the  country  of  his  choice  and  affection,  that  he  wishes 
America  to  be  happy  and  free,  that  no  promise  or  reward  would  tempt 
him  to  oppose  America,  that  he  has  refused  offers  of  preferment,  and  holds 
no  office,  half-pay  or  place  of  honor  or  profit  under  the  King  of  Great 
Britain,  and  desires  none.  But  that  he  cannot  unsheath  his  sword  against 
his  King,  his  brother  and  other  near  relations,  who  fight  in  his  armies.' 

"  Capt.  H.  being  asked  whether  it  his  opinion  that  the  people  of  Great 
Britain  have  a  right  to  bind,  at  their  discretion,  the  people  of  the  United 
Colonies,  in  all  cases  whatever?  Answered,  That  he  is  not  sufficiently 
acquainted  with  the  merits  of  the  case  to  answer  that  question  ;  that  if  he 
had  one  hundred  hearts  he  would  lose  them  all  rather  than  lose  his  lib- 
erty ;  that  he  wishes  America  to  be  happy  and  free,  and  is  ready  to  bind 


66  RISE    AXI>   PROGRESS    OF 

himself  by  his  parole  not  to  take  any  part  against  America,  or  any  mea- 
sure of  the  colonies  for  her  defence,  either  by  thought,  word  or  deed.' 

"  Capt.  Hamilton  withdrew.  First  question  then  put  by  the  Chairman 
■was,  Whether  Capt.  H.  is  such  a  friend  as  described  by  the  representa- 
tives of  the  Congress  of  this  colony  ?  Agreed  unanimously  in  the  nega- 
tive. Second  question  was  then  put,  Whether  it  is  necessary  to  remove 
Capt.  H  from  his  present  place  of  residence  ?  Agreed  unanimously  in 
the  negative.  Third  question  was  then  put,  Whether  Capt.  H.'s  parole 
is  sufficient  security  ?     Agreed  unanimously  in  the  affirmative. 

"  Capt.  H.  was  then  called  in,  and  signed  the  following  parole  of 
honor : 

"  Xeio-  York,  June  24,  1776. 

"  I,  Archibald  Hamilton,  Esq.,  do  declare  upon  my  honor,  that  I  will 
not,  directly  or  indirectly,  oppose  or  contravene  the  measures  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  or  of  the  Congress  of  this  colony. 

"  ARCHIBALD  HAMILTON." 

Protection  of  Stephen  Martin,  June  26,  '76.  In  special  committee 
of  Congress  : 

Whereas  Stephen  Martin,  of  Far  Rockaway,  physician,  has  given 
(Feb.  17,  last)  a  bond  to  behave  himself  peaceably  and  make  no  opposi- 
tion to  the  measures  of  the  Continental  Congress,  or  the  Congress  of  this 
colony,  or  to  instigate  others  so  to  do  ;  and  hath  this  day  given  his  parole 
that  he  will  not  directly  or  indirectly  oppose  or  contravene  the  measures 
of  the  Continental  Congress,  or  of  the  Congress  of  this  colony  ;  it  is  there- 
fore hereby  recommended  to  all  friends  of  the  United  Colonies  and  all 
others,  not  to  molest  said  Stephen  Martin,  while  he  continues  to  fulfH  the 
conditions  of  his  said  bond,  and  observe  and  keep  his  parole  of  honor. 

61.  June  5.  The  Queens  county  committee  solicited  from 
Cono;ress  a  loan  of  £100 — o-ranted.  Information  also  re- 
ceived  that  Capt.  John  Sands  has  150  men  in  his  district,  but 
that  they  are  in  general  destitute  of  powder.  Ordered,  that 
the  commissary  deliver  100  pounds  to  Oliver  Thorne,  to  be 
conveyed  to  Queens  county  committee. 

62.  Jimc  9,  1776.  The  levies  from  Queens  county  were 
ordered  to  march,  June  19,  to  reinforce  the  army  in  New- 
York.  The  detachment  of  Queens  formed  part  of  the  2nd 
battalion  for  the  city  and  county  of  New-York,  consisting  of 
two    captains,    three    1st   lieutenants,   two  2nd   lieutenants, 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  67 

appointed  from  Queens  county,  and  175  privates,  including 
sergeants  and  corporals,  at  the  rate  of  three  of  each  to  every 
75  men. 

John  Morin  Scott*  appointed  brigadier  general  of  the 
forces  to  reinforce  the  Continental  army  at  New- York. 

*  Sept.  16,  1784.  Died — Hon.  J.  M.  Scott,  Secretary  of  State,  mem- 
ber of  the  Continental  Congress,  and  member  of  the  State  Senate.  During 
the  war,  brigadier  general  of  the  militia,  and  very  eminent  as  a  lawyer. 
He  was  a  king's  justice  in  1766,  and  had  a  country  seat  at  Greenwich. 

New-York,  June  11,  1776. 

Sir  :  From  the  inclosed  you  will  see  that  you,  in  con- 
junction with  the  committee  of  your  county,  are  to  select  volun- 
teers or  drafted  men  of  the  militia,  to  make  a  part  of  the  3000 
militia  of  this  colony  destined  to  reinforce  the  Continental 
army  at  New- York,  the  command  of  which  I  am  honored  with. 
*  *  *  As  it  would  tend  much  to  our  disgrace,  should  our 
brethren  of  the  neighboring  colonies  be  more  expeditious  in 
their  levies  and  marches  than  ourselves,  and  that  when  the 
object  is  the  defence  of  our  own  colony,  I  need  assign  no  other 
argument  to  urge  you  to  the  utmost  dispatch.  The  enemy  is 
hourly  expected.  The  occasion  is  pressing,  and  will  admit  of 
no  delay.  Your  detachment  must  come  well  armed  and 
accoutred,  with  their  cartouch  boxes  filled  with  loaded  cart- 
ridges. Their  pay  will  commence  from  the  day  of  their  march : 
and  for  their  subsistence  on  the  march  they  are  to  be  allowed 
one  penny,  lawful  money,  per  mile,  at  twenty  miles  per  day, 
coming  to  and  returning  from  New- York.  Their  pay  is  5s.  4d. 
per  month.  Your  detachment  is  to  begin  its  march  on  the 
17th  inst.  at  latest,  and  as  much  sooner  as  possible. 

Be  pleased  to  take  care  that  the  commanding  officer  of  your 
detachment  comes  provided  with  a  proper  roll  or  return,  to  be 
delivered  to  me.  I  am  your  humble  servant, 

JNO.  MORIN  SCOTT. 

To  Col.  Sands. 

[All  stragglers  were  apprehended.  Hence  the  bearer  of 
these  letters  had  a  pass,  endorsed  on  them  as  follows  : 


68 


RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 


''  On  the  service  of  the  United  Colonies. 
"  Hr  Please  let  the  bearer  hereof,  who  is  an  express  sent  by  nie  on 
Continental  service,  pass  without  interruption 

"JNO.  MORIN  SCOTT,  Brig.  GeiiHr—Ed.] 

To  the  Co/nmanding  Officer  of  the  MiJitla  and  to  the  Commillee 
of  the  County  of  Queens. 

Per  Express.  New-York.^  June  13,  1776. 

Gentlemen  :  If  there  was  reason  to  urge  your  brigade 
to  a  dispatchful  discharge  of  the  duty  imposed  on  them,  and 
described  in  the  letter  I  lately  sent  by  express,  there  will 
appear  from  a  perusal  of  the  inclosed  papers  most  abundant 
reason  to  increase  that  dispatch.  I  therefore  earnestly  beseech 
you,  by  the  honor  of  the  colony  and  by  that  zealous  attach- 
ment which  the  brave  and  free  ought  ever  to  demonstrate  for 
the  defence  of  the  capital  of  an  insulted  colony,  that  your 
militia  detachments,  regardless  of  the  day  to  which  the  last 
dispatches  permitted  them  to  retard  their  march,  may  hasten 
to  New-York  with  that  alacrity  which  will  convince  their 
American  brethren,  that  they  scorn  to  take  advantage  of  any 
indulgence  which  former  circumstances  induced  the  equity  of 
the  Congress  to  grant  them. 

Let  them  fly,  for  God's  sake,  to  enable  us  to  make  that 
defence  which  every  friend  to  liberty  ought  to  think -himself 
happy  in  contributing  to  at  the  expense  of  the  last  drop  of  his 
blood.  I  am,  gentlemen,  with  respect, 

Your  very  humble  servant, 

JNO.  MORIN  SCOTT,  Brig.  Gen. 

63.  Such  of  the  militia  of  Queens  county  as  were  loy- 
alists, or  from  prudential  considerations  wished  to  remain 
neutral,  refused  to  train,  and  secreted  themselves.  Many 
repaired  to  the  recesses  of  swamps.  Several  expeditions 
were  set  on  foot  to  drive  tlieni  thence,  as  appears  by  the 
following  orders. 

Queens  County,  June  19,  1776. 
To  Mr.  Tno'ri  Mitchell,  Lt.— 

You  are  hereby  required  to  march  your  comj)any  into  Capt. 
Peter  Nostrand's  district,  and  divide  them  into  as  many  parts  as 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  69 

you  may  think  proper,  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  and  assisting 
him  to  bring  forthwith  283  defauhing  persons  belonging  to  that 
company,  or  such  of  them  as  you  can  find,  and  forthwith  send 
or  bring  them  to  Samuel  Nicolls',  and  there  safely  secure  them 
until  further  orders.*         Given  under  jmy  hand  and  seal. 

JOHN  SANDS,   Col. 

*  Capt.  Daniel  Nostrand  received  like  orders  to  march  into  Lt.  Robt, 
Coles'  district,  and  apprehend  63  defaulters  ;  Capt.  Philip  Valentine  to 
march  into  Capt.  Seaman's  district,  and  apprehend  70  defaulters  ;  Lieut. 
Robt.  Coles  to  march  into  Capt.  D.  Laton's  district,  and  apprehend  16 
defaulters. 

64.  June  21,  1776.  Information  respecting  Charles 
Arden,  &c.,  at  Jamaica. — (Witnesses  indicated  by  a  *.) 

Doct.  Cha's  Arden  was  the  person  who  instigated  the  tories 
to  sign  against  having  a  Congress  or  a  Committee. 
*Benj..  Smith,  (son  of  Sam'l  Smith,  Esq.) 
*Robt.  Hinchman. 
*Thomas  Smith,  (son  of  Thomas,)  whom  he  threatened  to 

hang  if  he  would  not  sign  a  paper. 

*Isaac  Lefferts — bought  widow  Betts'   farm.     He  wrote 

the   affidavit  of  Rcelof  Duryea  about  Parson  Keteltas, 

and  carried  Justice  French  to  Duryea's  for  that  purpose. 

Capt.  Benj.  Whithead^  late  supervisor,  repeatedly  refused 

to  communicate  to  the  town  of  Jamaica  certain  letters  from  the 

general  committee  of  New- York,  requesting  the  town  to  be 

called   together  to  elect  members  of  a  committee  or  Congress. 

*Waters  Smith,  or  either  of  the  persons  above  named,  or 

Capt.  Jacob  Wright. 

Alexander  Wallace — resides  at  Jamaica,  in  Waters  Smith's 
house. 

Bethune. — He  maintains  an  intimacy  with  Benjamin 

Wliithead  and  Dr.  Arden.     {See  30.) 

Martin,  from   Antigua,  dwells  in  Ob.  Mills'  House, 

opposite  the  meeting  house,  at  a  high  rent.  He  associates 
chiefly  with  J D .     {See  60.) 

Charles  McEvers — resides  in  John  Troup's  house. 
4* 


70  RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 

Thomas  and  Fleming  Colgan  frequently  go  to  Creed's  Hill 
to  look  out.  That  two  Dimhars,  John  Livingston.  Jr.,  and  one 
of  the  Colgans,  were  there  lately  looking  out  for  a  fleet.  That 
the  Dunhars.  John  and  William ^  shut  themselves  up  and 
refused  to  train  or  pay  their  fines. 

Geo.  Folliot — lives  with  Jaques  Johnson,  at  Fresh  Meadows, 
about  one  and  a  half  miles  from  Jamaica. 

Theophilact  Dache.  of  Flatbush — comes  to  Jamaica  to  Alex- 
ander Wallace's. 

J D lives  next  to  Wm.  Betts.    (His  son  has  been 

pursued  several  times,  but  can't  be  taken.)  He  is  said  to  be  a 
dangerous  Tory. 

65.  Stephen  Rider,  with  some  Jamaica  minute-men,  went 
to  Hempstead  to  hunt  defaulters.  A  party  of  nine  were  in 
two  sedge- boats  concealed  in  the  swamp  at  the  head  of  De- 
mott's  (now  Dorlon's)  mill  pond.  (On  the  approach  of  these 
hunting-parties,  it  was  usual  for  the  miller  to  hang  out  a 
white  cloth  as  a  signal,  when  the  defaulters  would  retire  to 
their  huts  on  the  little  islands  in  the  swamp.  Their  pur- 
suers would  sometimes  fire  a  few  random  shot  in  the  bushes 
to  scare  them  out,  and  then  go  off.)  On  this  occasion  Rider 
climbed  an  oak  to  reconnoitre,  when  a  ball  whistled  by  his 
head.  He  saw  by  the  smoke  whence  it  came.  A  loaded 
gun  was  handed  him,  which  he  fired.  The  ball  passed 
through  the  body  of  George  Smith,  just  below  the  shoulder- 
blade,  as  he  was  leaning  over  the  side  of  his  boat  to  get  out. 
Drs.  Searing  and  Seabury  dressed  the  wound,  sucked  out 
the  blood  with  a  tube,  and  inserted  a  tent  before  and  behind, 
the  blood  oozing  out  at  every  breath ;  but  as  Smith  was 
vigorous  and  only  eighteen  years  old,  he  soon  recovered.* 

After  the  British  got  possession  of  Long  Island,  Rider  was 
arrested  and  thrown  in  the  provost,  where  he  suffered  great 
hardships,  and  after  a  confinement  of  a  year,  a  month  and  a 
day,  and  the  payment  of  a  heavy  fine,  was  set  free. 
*'June  22, 1776.  Exaviinations  relative  to  the  wounding  of  George  Smith. 

Joseph  Smith  says — "  Last  night  he  and  brother  Daniel  Smith,  Rich- 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  71 

ard  Smith  and  Benjamin  Pettit,  went  to  the  head  of  the  mill  pond  and 
remained  there  in  a  house  till  this  morning,  when  the  fray  happened. 
They  went  there  to  prevent  their  being  taken.  There  was  one  more 
boat  in  company  with  them,  which  belongs  to  Anthony  Demott,  with 
three  persons  in  it.  The  jjersons  in  the  other  boat  had  more  than  one 
gun  to  his  knowledge.  Tne  first  gun  fired,  he  believes,  was  to  bring 
thern  to.  He  was  along  with  one  of  the  men  in  the  other  boat,  and  see 
him  fire  at  the  persons  [minute  men]  in  pursuit.  Last  night  the  persons 
in  the  other  boat  declared  that  they  would  not  be  taken ;  and  some  of 
them  said  they  would  shoot  the  first  man  who  would  take  them,  Anthony 
Demott  was  in  the  other  boat." 

Benj.  Pettit  says — "  The  night  before  last  he  went  to  the  head  of  the 
mill  pond  with  some  strangers,  and  was  there  all  day  yesterday.  Last 
night  he  staid  there  in  a  house  with  nine  persons,  viz.,  Anthony,  Michael 
and  David  Demott,  Daniel,  Joseph,  George  and  Richard  Smith,  and  one 
stranger.  They  had  fi%e  guns  with  them  in  the  house.  One  belonged  to 
Demott,  or  one  of  his  sons  ;  the  stranger  claimed  three.  They  all  quit 
the  house  and  went  out  in  the  pond  this  morning,  some  in  one  boat  and 
some  in  the  other.  One  stranger  in  the  boat  he  was  in.  He  did  not  see 
the  person  who  fired  first.  If  there  was  a  gun  fired  from  the  pond  first, 
he  believes  it  must  have  been  the  stranger  that  fired  it,  for  when  the — " 

66.    In  Committee,  Queens  County,  June  24,  1776. 

1.  It  was  resolved  that  all  persons  under  recognizance  to 
Congress,  taken  by  Col.  Heard,  be  sent  for  by  Congress,  and  be 
more  safely  secured. 

2.  That  application  be  made  to  Congress  to  send  500  of  the 
continental  or  provincial  troops  immediately  into  Hempstead, 
to  put  the  resolves  of  Congress  and  of  this  committee  into 
execution,  and  to  be  billeted  on  the  disaffected  and  deserting 
persons,  at  the  discretion  of  the  oflicers  of  the  2nd  regiment  of 
Queens  county. 

3.  That  application  be  made  to  Congress  to  prescribe  some 
mode  to  secure  all  persons  disaffected  and  dangerous,  as  well 
above  fift)'  as  under,  in  Glueens  county. 

JOSEPH  ROBL\SOX,  Dep.  Oi'n. 

Lt.  Birdsall,  of  2d  regiment,  of  Queens  county,  appears  in  Congress 
and  says  the  committee  of  Queens  have  resolved  to  make  up  their  drafts 
out  of  the  lories  in  Hempstead,  and  want  Congress  to  confirm  it.  The 
committee  want  assistance  to  hunt  them  out  of  the  swamp.     He  thinks 


72  RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 

500  men  will  do  it  in  a  week,  but  a  greater  number  will  make  greater 
dispatch.  The  committee  want  an  order  to  Suffolk  to  send  back  all  such 
as  flee  out  of  Queens  ;  and  that  some  ofScer  be  empowered  to  secure 
every  disaffected  person  above  fifty  years  of  age. — June  24. 

WARRANT. 

67.  To  Capt.  Abeel,  of  Col.  Lasher's  battalion  : 

Sir:  Whereas,  S .  of  the  township  of  Hemp- 
stead, inn-keeper,  stands  charged  with  dangerous  designs  and 
treasonable  conspiracies  against  the  rights  and  liberties  of 
America  ;  and  that  lor  the  perpetration  of  such  wicked  designs 
and  conspiracies  he  hath  divers  cannon  and  other  implements 
of  war  now"  concealed : 

We  therefore,  by  virtue  of  the  power  and  authority  unto  us 
given,  by  a  resolve  of  the  Congress  of  this  colony,  of  the  20th 
of  June   inst.,   do   authorize  and  require  you  to  cause  to  be 

apprehended  and  secured  the  said S ,  with  all  his 

papers,  and  to  make  search  for  and  take  all  cannon  and  other 
implements  of  war  whatsoever,  in  his  house,  barn  and  out- 
houses; and  that  return  be  made  to  us  of  the  manner  in  which 
this  warrant  shall  be  executed,  in  order  that  the  same  may  be 
made  known  to  the  said  Congress. 

Given  under  our  hand,  this  24th  June,  1776. 

68.  June  28.  Washington  says :  "  I  have  sent  a  party 
after  the  disaffectedj  who  have  taken  up  arms  on  Long  Island, 
but  have  not  as  yet  been  able  to  apprehend  them,  having 
concealed  themselves  in  different  woods  and  morasses.'* — 
Sparks,  III.  441. 

69.  List  of  prisoners  sent  from  Hempstead  hy  Lt.  Col.  Caary^ 
of  l^New  Haven,]  to  Brig.  Gen.  Greene,  at  head  quarters, 
Long  Island,  June  29,  1776. 
J.  D.,  J.  H. — From  Jamaica  jail. 
J.  C. — Received  powder  and  absconded  in  the  woods. 

A.  A. — Disaflected  person,  taken  in  the  woods. 
J.  L. — Found  with  his  gun  charged. 

B.  P. — In  the  swamp  in  the  fight,  and  had  powder  from  the 
man-of-war. 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  73 

E.  R. — In  the  woods,  hid. 

R.  S. — In  the  swamp  battle,  and  had  powder  from  the  Asia. 

J.  B. — A  disaffected  person. 

D.  S. — In  the  swamp  battle. 

E.  R. — Hid  in  the  swamp. 

J.  B. — Same,  disaffected  person. 

N.  S. — Received  powder  from  the  Asia,  absconded  in  the 
woods,  and  appears  to  know  much  of  the  scheme. 

T.  W. — A  d — d  rascal,  and  the  greatest  Tory. 

W.  McC,  T.  F.,  J.  F.,  P.  IV.,  S.  r.,— Declared  they  would 
sooner  fight  for  the  King  than  the  Congress,  and  totally  deny 
the  authority  of  that  body, 

J.  C. — Gun-stealer  or  informer,  from  Newport. 

H.  D. — Said  Gen.  Washington  was  more  concerned  in  the 
conspiracy  than  any  one. 

List  referred  to  the  determination  of  Congress  June  30. 
July  10  the  prisoners  petitioned  for  release,  or  to  be  brought 
before  Congress  to  know  whereof  they  are  accused,  and 
what  is  expected  of  them  to  do.  Say  they  have  given  no 
aid  or  information  to  the  army  or  navy  of  the  king  of  Great 
Britain.  They  are  tradesmen  and  farmers,  and  in  this  sea- 
son of  the  year  their  business  nmst  greatly  suffer. — Jour., 
Vol.  XXXIII,  224. 

70.  At  an  election  held  in  Queens  county,  June  24,  as  ap- 
pears by  the  certificate  of  the  county  committee, 

Col.  Jacob  Blackwell,  N.  Cornelius  Van  Wyck,  F. 

Capt.  Jona.  Lawrence,  N.  Jas.  Townsend,  O. 

Waters  Smith,  J.  Rev.  Abm.  Keteltas,  J. 

Samuel  Townsend,  O.  Benj.  Sands,  C.  N. 

were  elected  to  represent  Queens  county  in  the  Provincial 
Congress  till  the  2d  Tuesday  in  May  next,  with  power  to  de- 
termine on  the  subject  of  creating  and  constituting  a  new 
form  of  government,  to  the  exclusion  of  all  foreign  jurisdic- 
tion. 


74  KISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 

71.  In  Committee,  District  of  Great  Neck,  Cow  Neck,  &c. 
June  25,  1776  : 

Gentlemen  : — Whereas,  a  vacancy  has  happened  in  the  offi- 
cers of  the  miUtia  company  of  this  district,  by  the  promotion  of 
Capt.  John  Sands  to  the  rank  of  Colonel ;  this  is  to  certify,  that 
the  following  gentlemen  having  signed  the  general  Association,* 
and  being  duly  elected  as  officers  of  the  militia  company  in  this 
district  in  room  of  those  promoted,  agreeable  to  the  recommenda- 
tion of  the  Hon.  Provincial  Congress  of  this  colony,  we  do 
hereby  return  and  recommend  them  accordingly  for  their  com- 
missions, viz. : 

Thomas  Mitchell,  Captain  ;  Aspinwall  Cornwell,  First  Lieu- 
tenant ;  Ohver  Lawrence,  Second  Lieutenant. 
Signed  by  order  of  the  Committee. 

ADRIAEN  ONDERDONCK,  Dep.  Ch'n. 

Attested,  John  Farmer,!  Clerk. 
To  the  Hon.  Pro.  Cong. 

*  Form  of  Association  recommended  March  27,  1776 : 
"  We,  the  subscribers,  inhabitants  of  Cow  Neck,  Great  Neck,  &c.,  in 
the  county  of  Queens,  and  colony  of  New-York,  do  voluntarily  and 
solemnly  engage  and  associate,  under  all  the  ties  held  sacred  among  man- 
kind, at  the  risk  of  our  lives  and  fortunes,  to  defend  by  arms  the  United 
American  Colonies  against  the  hostile  attempts  of  the  British  fleets  and 
armies,  until  the  present  unhappy  controversy  between  the  two  countr  es 
shall  be  settled." 

t  He  was  a  diminutive,  hot-headed  whig,  who  came  from  Boston  and 
taught  school  on  the  lower  part  of  Cow  Neck. 

72.  July  1.  Amos  Denton  and  John  Thurston,  of  the  Ja- 
maica committee,  inform  Congress  that  Thomas  Denton  is 
chosen  Second  Lieutenant  in  Captain  Abm.  Ditmars'  com- 
pany, in  the  1st  regiment,  in  Queens  county,  and  request  a 
commission. 

New-  Yoi'k,  July  3,  1776. 

73.  To  Col.  John  Sands,  Esq.  : 

Sir: — I  have  this  day  waited  upon  his  Excellency,  Gen. 
Washington,  relating  to  removing  the  cattle,  horses  and  sheep 
on  the  south  side  of  Queens  county,  according  to  the  resolve  of 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  75 

Congress  and  the  general  officers  of  the  army.  His  opinion  is 
that  the  commanding  officers  and  committees  of  the  county, 
order  it  immediately  done.  He  farther  declared  that  in  case 
the  Tories  made  any  resistance,  he  would  send  a  number  of 
his  men  with  orders  to  shoot  all  the  creatures,  and  also  those 
who  hindered  the  execution  of  said  resolve,  within  the  limits 
therein  prescribed.  The  Commissary  of  the  army  engaged  to 
me  that  he  would  pay  the  full  value  for  the  fat  cattle  and  sheep 
to  the  owners,  provided  they  would  drive  them  within  Gen. 
Greene's  lines,  in  Brookland.  Proper  care  will  be  taken  as  to 
valuing  said  creatures.  Time  will  not  permit  us  to  make  any 
delay.  I  am,  sir,  your  very  humble  servant, 

JEROMUS  REMSEN,  Jr. 

74.  In  Committee,  Queens  county,  July  6,  1776  : 
Whereas,  the  Provincial  Congress,    in  a  resolve  of  30th 

June,  hath  recommended  that  all  persons  who  have  left  their 
places  of  abode  with  a  design  to  secrete  themselves,  should  be 
apprehended  and  brought  before  the  committee  of  the  town  or 
county : 

Therefore,  the  committee  recommend  it  to  the  commanding 
officer  of  the  2d  battalion  of  the  covmty  militia,  to  see  said  re- 
solve carried  into  execution  throughout  your  district. 
By  order  of  the  committee. 

JOS.  ROBINSON,  Dep.  CVn. 
To  Col.  John  Sands. 

75.  The  Congress  met  at  the  Court  House,  Westchester 
county,  Tuesday,  July  9tli,  177G  ;  Gen.  Nathaniel  Woodhull, 
President. 

Mr.  Jay  moved  that,  whereas,  the  Rev.  Abm.  Keteltas, 
one  of  the  deputies  from  Queens  county,  has  been  solemnly 
devoted  to  the  service  of  God  and  the  cure  of  souls,  he  has  good 
right  to  claim  an  exemption  from  all  such  employments  as 
would  divert  his  attention  from  the  affairs  of  that  Kingdom 
which  is  not  of  this  world  : 

Resolved^  That  he  be  at  liberty  to  attend  this  house  only  at 
such  times  as  he  may  think  proper, — carried,  23  to  18. 


76  RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 

A  letter  was  received  from  the  Hon.  John  Hancock  en- 
closing a  copy  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  ;  both  of 
which  were  referred  to  a  committee,  who  reported  the  same 
day  that,  the  reasons  assigned  by  the  Continental  Congress 
for  declaring  the  United  Colonies  free  and  independent 
States,  were  cogent  and  conclusive  ;  and  that,  "  while  we 
lament  the  cruel  necessity,  we  approve  the  same  ;  and  will, 
at  the  risk  of  our  lives  and  fortunes,  join  with  the  other  colo- 
nies in  supporting  it." 

Resolved,  That  the  said  Declaration  be  published  by  beat 
of  drum  at  this  place,  on  Thursday  next,  and  that  500  copies, 
printed  in  handbills,  be  sent  to  the  different  counties  of  this 
State.  [It  was  read  at  the  head  of  each  company  in  dueens 
county,  and  at  the  head  of  each  brigade  of  the  army  stationed 
at  New- York.*]— ^c/. 

*  Many  officers  and  leading  men  now  quit  the  American  cause. 

76.  Juhj  11.  Lieut.  W.  Toogood  was  ordered  to  have 
all  boats  hauled  up  at  Hog  Island. 

77.  July  13.  The  deputies  from  Queens  say  the  militia 
are  destitute  of  ammunition.  Congress  order  10,000  cart- 
ridges of  dilferent  sizes,  filled  with  powder  and  ball,  and  1000 
flints,  to  be  delivered  to  Capt.  Jona.  Lawrence,  and  to  be 
charged  to  the  county. 

78.  July  19.  Congress  voted  810  bounty  to  non-commis- 
sioned officers  and  privates  of  the  militia,  to  be  drafted  in 
Queens  county. 

79.  Report  to  the  President  to  Congress  on  driving  off  Stock : 
Sir  : — I  have  been  some  days,  and  am  still,  in  the  execution 
of  the  order  of  Congress  for  removing  the  cattle,  horses  and 
sheep  in  this  county,  and  expect  to  finish  it  in  a  day  or  two 
more.  From  tlic  best  computation  that  can  be  made,  there  are 
not  less  tiian  7000  horned  cattle,  7000  sheep  and  1000  horses  in 
this  county,  comprehended  in  the  above  order,  and  to  be  re- 
moved in  pursuance  of  it.  A  number  so  large,  it  is  conceived, 
cannot  possibly  live  long  where  they  arc  to  be  driven.     On  the 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  77 

Brushy  Plains  they  will  be  entirely  destitute  of  water,  besides 
having  other  very  scanty  means  of  subsistence. 

By  attending  myself  on  this  business,  I  have  had  an  oppor- 
tunity of  knowing  the  extreme  distress  to  which  the  rigid  exe- 
cution of  this  order  must  expose  many  people  with  their  fami- 
lies ;  so  that  some  among  the  poorer  sort,  for  aught  I  know, 
must  be  left  to  starve.  The  cattle  which  many  people  have 
turned  off  to  fat  for  the  use  of  their  families,  will  be  lost  as  to 
all  the  purposes  of  such  provision,  and  their  famihes  be  desti- 
tute of  that  necessary  supply  for  winter.  In  several  parts  of  the 
county  there  was  last  year  a  distemper  among  the  horses, 
which  swept  off  such  numbers  of  them  that  many  people  have 
been  obliged  since  to  depend  entirely  upon  oxen.  These  being 
now  taken  away,  they  are  deprived  of  the  only  means  they  had 
of  carrying  on  any  labor  upon  their  farms,  that  requires  a  team 
of  horses  or  oxen.  The  consequence  of  which  must  be,  that 
they  can  neither  secure  their  present  harvest,  nor  till  the  earth 
for  a  future  one. 

I  find  the  people  in  general  are  willing  to  enter  into  obliga- 
tions, that  (in  case  of  immediate  danger)  they  will  drive  their 
stock  to  any  place  of  greater  safety  on  the  island,  pursuant  to 
the  direction  of  the  Congress  or  county  committee.  And  con- 
sidering the  danger  there  is  under  the  present  regulation  of 
losing  a  great  part  of  the  stock  for  want  of  sustenance,  and 
the  hardships  to  which  people  are  reduced,  I  thought  it  iiiight 
not  be  amiss  to  mention  this  circumstance,  supposing  that  the 
Congress,  in  concurrence  with  the  General,  might  perhaps,  fall 
on  some  method,  in  this  way,  for  securing  the  stock  on  an 
emergency, 

The  difficulty  of  keeping  the  stock  within  the  limits  pre- 
scribed, will  be  so  great  that  I  doubt  it  will  be  out  of  my  power 
to  effect  it.  A  considerable  number  of  men  will  be  necessary 
for  the  purpose — more  than  I  can  possibly  keep  on  that  duty, 
when  harvest  is  so  near  at  hand.  In  sliort  I  do  not  see  but  that 
tor  the  present  at  least,*  I  shall  be  obliged  to  leave  them  to  take 
their  chance.  I  am,  sir,  your  very  humble  servant, 

Cow  Neck,  July,  1776.  BE.\J.  KISSAM.f 

*  Aug.  16.  Congress  received  the  petition  of  the  inhabitants  of  Hemp- 
stead relative  to  cattle.     (MS.  Jour.  XLI.  .323.) 


78  RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 

t  Died  Oct.  26,  1782,  an  eminent  lawyer.  John  Jay  was  his  stu- 
dent. 

80.  July  20.  Congress  resolved  that  the  live  stock  be 
collected  into  convenient  places  so  as  to  be  driven  when  ne- 
cessary from  the  coast  into  the  interior  of  the  Island,  and 
there  guarded,  leaving  with  each  farmer  one  pair  of  horses, 
and  with  each  large  family  three  milch  cows,  two  to  a  mid- 
dling, and  one  to  a  small  family  ;  or  even  kill  them,  if  ne- 
cessary, to  prevent  their  falling  into  the  enemies'  liands  ; 
that  the  one-fourth  part  of  the  minute-men  and  militia  of 
Long  Island,  be  drafted  immediately  to  carry  these  resolves 
into  execution.* 

*  The  Troop  of  Horse  of  Queens  county  think  it  hard  that  one- 
fourth  of  their  number  was  drafted  with  the  foot,  as  they  have  been  at  the 
expense  of  equipping  themselves  as  troopers.  Referred  to  Gen,  Wood- 
hull. 

A  list  of  one-fourth  part  of  Capt.  Philip  Valentine's  Company  drafted 

July  25. 
Benj.  Cornwell,  Serg't.t  Richard  Valentine,  John  Carl, 

Peter,  serv't  to  Griswold,Samuel  Davenport,         Peter  Titus,* 
Wm.  Crooker,  Daniel  Willis,  Charles  Titus,* 

James  Tobine,*  Austin  Williams,  Rich'd  Townsend, 

P^penetus  Piatt,*  John  Searing,*  Lott  Carman, 

Uriah  Piatt,*  Carr  Hubbs,  Samuel  Place, 

Richard  Seaman,t  Derick  Albertson,*  John  Newbury ,t 

Joseph  Smith. 
Epenetus  and  Uriah  Piatt  have  each  hired  a  man  in  their  room,  who 
are  to  be  at  Brooklandat  your  quarters,  Saturday,  24th.    Aug.  23,  1776. 

PH.  VALENTINE,  Capt. 
To  Col.  Sands,  Prookland 

t  Answered  to  their  names,  *  hired  substitutes. 

81.  Resolved,  That  Josiah  Smith,  of  Suffolk,  be  1st  Colonel 
of  the  troops  drafted  on  Long  Island  ;  Col.  John  Sands,  2d  Col. ; 
Ab'm  Rcmscn,  Major ;  and  Lt.  Col.  B.  Birdsall,  be  Captain. 

JVhite  Plains,  July  20,  1776. 

82.  SiH  : — I  have  received  orders  from  Congress  to  give 
orders  to  all  tlic  commanding  officers  of  my  brigade,  to  hold 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  79 

themselves  in  readiness.  Sir,  you  are  therefore  directed  to 
keep  the  regiment  under  your  command  in  readiness  to  march 
at  the  shortest  notice,  with  five  days'  provisions,  to  any  part  of 
Long  Island  where  you  shall  be  directed  for  the  defence  of  the 
same.  I  am,  sir,  your  humble  servant, 

NATH'L  WOODHULL,  Brig.  Gen. 

To  Col.  Sands. 

White  Plains,  July  20,  1776. 
Sir: — I  am  directed  by  the'  Convention  to  enclose  to  you 
their  resolves  for  drafting  one-quarter  part  of  the  militia  of  Suf- 
folk, Q^ueens  and  Kings  counties,  for  the  purpose  of  defending 
and  protecting  the  inhabitants  and  stock  of  the  same. 

I  doubt  not  but  your  zeal  and  patriotism  will  prompt  you  to 
exert  every  nerve  on  this  arduous  and  important  occasion, 
And  am,  sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

NATH'L  WOODHULL,  PresH. 
To  Col.  John  Sands. 

83.  Recruiting commmenced  July  23,  (see  pay  rolls  103.) 
Col.  Sands  had  his  quarters  at  Nath'l  Seaman's,  Westbury. 
The  recruits  were  ordered  out  to  guard  the  coast,  and  were 
exercised  four  hours  per  day.     $10  bounty  to  volunteers.* 

*  John  Sands  received  from  the  Convention  £617  14s.  8fZ.,  for 
payment  of  one-half  bounty  of  the  men  [309  ?]  who  passed  muster  and 
were  drafted  in  Queens  county,  July  23,  1776. 

Ab'm  Remsen  received  of  John  Sands  <£238  to  pay  half  bounty  due 
129  recruits,  raised  out  of   1st  battalion  in  Queens  county,  Aug,  10,  '76. 

Lieut  Col.  Birdsall  received  £34  for  half  bounty  of  17  men,  drafts. 

Lieut.  Manee  do.  £40  do.  20         do. 

Wm.  Hicks  do.  £20  do.  10         do. 

Lieut.  Th.  Williams,  in  behalf  of  Capt.  Peter  xVostrand,  received  .$200 
in  part  bounty  of  40  drafts,  Aug.  10,  1776. 

RECRUITS. 

Lieut.  Itob't  Coles'  Company. 
Wm.  Baker,  Ab'm  Morrill,  John  Weeks, 

Willet  Latting,  Rob't  Justice,  Avery  Lewis, 

Jesse  Williams,  Samuel  Doxy,  Lewis  Jones. 

Capt.  Laton's  Company. 
Benj.  Southward,  Job  Halstead,  Peter  Luyster, 

Tunis  Van  Cott,  John  Covert,  Isaac  Bogart. 

Jas.  Blanchfield,  Peter  Monfort, 


80 


RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 


Capt.  Seamari's  Company. 


Joseph  Cheshire, 
Henry  Colley, 
Alex.  Smith, 


John  Key, 
Edward  Berry, 
John  Langdon, 
Jas.  Bentley, 

Zophar  Nichols, 
Tho's  Seaman, 
James  Shero, 


Wm.  Seaman, 
Geo.  Baker, 
Isaac  Carpenter, 

Capt.  Peter  Nostrand'i 

Jas.  Lockran, 

Gilbert  Angevine, 

Nich.  Lawrence, 

Mulatto  John, 
Capt.  Philip  Valentine's  Company. 

Ephraim  Seamans,  IMaurice  Hearen 

Caleb  Seamans,  Jas.  Linchan. 

James  Ward, 


Geo.  Townsend, 
Jeremiah  Cheshire, 
Timothy  Williams. 

Company. 

Duncan  Campbell, 
Joshua  Ketchani, 
Rob't  Mackarov. 


In  Committee,  Queens  County.  July  24, 1776. 
84.  Gentlemen  : — This  county  being  under  a  necessity  of 
an  immediate  sum  of  money  for  defraying  the  necessary  ex- 
penses of  the  county,  we  desire  that  you  will  make  appHcation 
to  Congress  for  the  sum  of  £400,  and  transmit  the  same  to  Jo- 
seph Robinson,  Esq.,  who  is  chosen  our  treasurer. 

Signed  by  order  of  the  Committee. 

GEO.  TOWNSEND,   Ch'n. 
Attested,  Jeromus  Remsen,  Jr.,  Clerk. 
To  Col.  Blackwell,  &c. 

[GmnleO.—Ed.] 

July  22.  $2,000   was  paid   Mr.   Townsend  for  Queens 
county. 

85.  July  26.  A  letter  from   Joseph  Robinson  and  Noah 


Tiudlum,  Jr.,  has  been  chosen  Captain  of  the   Minute  Com- 
pany, in  place  of  John  J.  Skidmorc  promoted  to  a  majority. 

80.  When  IIowc  arrived  at  the  Hook,  the  disaflbctcd 
from  Kings  and  Queens  took  refuge  on  board  the  fleet,  and 
sup{)lied  him  with  all  the  information  he  desired. 

July  26.  Thomas  Willets,  Sherifl*  of  Queens,  was  ap- 
prohendod  by  the  county  committee  and  sent  to  Congress  for 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  81 

posting,  in  each  town  of  Queens  county,  the  Declaration  of 
Lord  and  Sir  William  Howe.* 

*  It  granted  "  a  free  and  general  pardon  to  all  those  who,  in  the  tu- 
mult and  disorder  of  the  times,  may  have  deviated  from  their  just  allegi- 
ance, and  are  willing,  by  a  speedy  return  to  their  duty,  to  reap  the  bene- 
fits of  the  royal  favor." 

87.  Rules  and  Orders  to  Col.  Dlrdsall. 

1.  You  are  to  take  command  of  the  recruits  and  march  to 
Far  Rockaway,  where  you  are  to  place  sentinels  in  the  most 
advantageous  place  to  discover  the  enemy ;  likewise  to  be  very 
careful  there  is  no  communication  by  small  craft  from  the  peo- 
ple of  that  place  on  board  of  the  ships  of  war.  Should  you  dis- 
cover any  persons  attempting  the  same,  you  are  to  put  them 
under  guard. 

2.  You  are  to  build  you  a  shelter,  if  there  is  none  conven- 
ient where  you  are  stationed.  Charge  your  men  that  they 
insult  nor  abuse  any  of  the  inhabitants  or  destroy  their  effects. 

3.  Should  you  discover  the  enemy  attempting  to  land,  you 
are  to  send  off  an  express  to  me  immediately,  and  order  the 
owners  of  the  stock  to  have  them  driven  off  with  all  dispatch 
upon  the  Plains. 

4.  Should  any  of  your  men  disobey  orders,  steal,  or  abuse 
any  of  the  inhabitants,  you  are  to  put  them  under  guard. 

5.  You  are  to  minute  down  daily  what  happens,  and  make  a 

return,  once  in  every  three  days,  at  Head  Quarters,  Westbury. 

JOHN  SANDS,  Colonel. 
July  25.  1776. 

Oyster  Bay  South,  July  27,  1776. 
88.  Sir  : — By  direct  information  from  Joshua  Ketchum,  one 
of  the  committee  of  Huntington,  there  are  thirty  or  forty  Tories 
in  Massapequa  Swamp.*  I  have  agreed  to  meet  Huntington 
Tuesday  morning  next,  at  8  o'clock.  They  are  to  join  us  with 
200  men.  Accordingly,  I  have  given  orders  to  the  several  of- 
ficers to  meet  and  join  with  Huntington  with  200  men,  which 
will  be  400  men  to  drive  the  swamp,  and  take  these  deserting 
armed  Tories.  I  have  meant  not  to  interfere  with  your  orders. 
If  I  have  any  ways,  be  so  kind  as  to  right  it.  I  am  obliged  to 
attend  at  Hempstead  Monday  next,  for  those  two  companies  to 


82  RISE    AND    TROGRESS    OF 

choose  their  officers.     Pray,  stay  until  I  come,  as  I  will  hurry 
and  come  over  to  Nathaniel  Seaman's,  Westbury,  to  see  you. 
I  hope  you  will  on  Tuesday  go  with  us. 
From  your  humble  servant, 

BENJ.  BIRDSALL,  Lt.  Col 
To  Col.  John  Sands. 

*  After  the  defeat  at  Brooklyn,  it  is  said,  these  loyalists  came  out,  and 
pulling  off  their  hats,  huzzaed  for  King  George. 

89.  Rules  and  orders  for  Lieut.  Jotham  Townsend, 
July  29 : 

1.  You  are  to  take  commandof  the  recruits  and  march  them 
down  toMatinecock  Point,  where  you  are  to  place  sentinels  in 
the  most  advantageous  places  to  discover  the  enemy,  likewise  to 
be  very  careful  there  is  no  communication  to  the  ships  of  war. 
Should  you  discover  any  persons  attempting  it,  you  are  to  put 
them  under  guard. 

2.  You  are  to  build  you  a  shelter,  if  there  be  none  con- 
venient. Should  you  .want  any  materials,  take  such  as  will 
answer  your  purpose  best. 

3.  Charge  your  men  that  they  insult  nor  abuse  any  of  the 
inhabitants,  or  destroy  their  effects. 

4.  Should  you  discover  the  enemy  attempting  to  land,  you 
are  to  send  off  express  to  me,  and  order  the  owners  of  stock  to 
drive  them  off  with  all  expedition  on  the  Great  Plains. 

5.  Should  any  of  your  men  disobey  orders,  steal,  or  abuse 
the  inhabitants,  you  are  to  put  them  under  guard. 

6.  Minute  down  daily  what  happens,  and  make  a  return 
Saturday  next  by  10  o'clock,  at  my  house. 


JNO.  SANDS,  Col 


Westbury,  July  29,  1776. 


Should  you  discover  the  enemy  in  sight,  you  are  to  imme- 
diately hoist  your  signal,  then  send  oif  your  express. 

You  are  not  to  sutler  your  men  to  play  at  cards,  dice,  or  any 
unlawful  game,  nor  intoxicate  themselves  with  strong  drink. 
You  are  to  observe  that  no  small  craft  passes  and  repasses, 
having  any  transient  persons  or  negroes  on  board.  Should 
you  discover  any.  you  arc  to  take  them  up.     li^  upon  cxamina- 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  .  83 

tion  you  find  them  clear,  discharge  them ;  if  guilty,  put  them 
under  guard  till  discharged  by  the  town  committee. 

You  are  not  to  let  your  men  waste  their  cartridges  by  firing 
wantonly  at  game.  You  are  to  exercise  your  men  four  hours 
every  day. 

90.  Richard  Manee,  you  are  ordered  to  take  your  re- 
cruits to  the  bottom  of  Cow  Neck,  and  then  apply  to  Simon 
Sands,  who  is  to  reconnoitre,  and  choose  a  place  for  you  to  be 
stationed  at,  where  you  are  to  build  a  shelter,  and  place  one 
sentinel  where  he  will  have  most  prospect  of  the  Sound — the 
sentry  to  be  relieved  once  every  two  hours  ;  should  he  spy  any 
vessels  appearing  to  be  ships  of  war,  transports,  or  tenders, 
send  express  to  Simon  Sands,  Wm.  and  John  Cornwell ;  on 
their  reviewing  the  same,  and  thinking  them  to  belong  to  the 
King  of  Great  Britain,  you  are  immediately  to  send  me  express. 

Likewise  notify  the  inhabitants,  who  will  drive  off  the  stock, 
which  you  are  to  see  done  with  all  dispatch  possible,  to  the 
Plains.  You  are  to  make  report  to  me  on  Friday  next,  by  10 
o'clock,  what  has  transpired. 

You  are  not  to  allow  any  man  to  do  any  damage  to  the 
owner  of  the  soil  you  are  stationed  on,  by  destroying  his  tim- 
ber, fence,  or  grain — only  what  is  wanted  for  building  you  a 
shelter. 

Additional  Orders,  July  26. 
You  are  to  ask  liberty  of  Simon  Sands  for  a  long  pole,  to 
be  set  in  the  most  convenient  place  to  hoist  a  flag  for  a 
signal.  You  are  to  exercise  your  men  four  hours  a  day,  as 
soon  as  time  will  permit,  and  make  return  to  me  by  Sunday, 
10  o'clock. 

91.  Wm.  Hicks,  Sergeant:  You  are  to  take  your  recruits 
to  the  bottom  of  Great  Neck,  to  a  point  of  land  formerly  called 
Haviland's  Point,  now  Joseph  Hewlett's,  and  there  place  one 
sentinel  in  the  most  convenient  place  to  have  a  prospect  of  the 
Sound.  Should  you  discover  any  ships  of  war,  transports,  or 
tenders,  you  are  immediately  to  acquaint  Major  Rich'd  Thorne 
and  John  Thorne.  On  their  receiving  the  same,  and  it  ap- 
pearing to  be  the  enemy,  you  are  to  send  express  to  me,  and 


84  RISE    AND    PKOGRESS    OF 

drive,  or  order  tlie  owners  of  the  stock  to  drive  them  to  the 
Plains.     July  23. 

92.  Copy  of  a  warrant  to  the  Captain  in  the  2d  Battalion  : 

Cow  Neck,  July  26,  1776. 
You  are  hereby  directed  to  take  notes  of  all  the  inhabitants 
in  your  district,  to  the  value  of  double  their  stock,  as  soon  as 
possible,  and  make  return  unto  me — fail  not. 

JNO.  SANDS,   Col. 

93.  Congress  order  Col.  Smith  to  march  with  all  his  new 
levies  to  the  west  part  of  Nassau  Island,  within  two  miles  of 
Gen.  Greene's  encampment.* 

Camp  at  Brookland^  Aug.  9,  ]  776. 

Sir  ;  Enclosed  are  the  resolutions  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress, ordering  you  to  join  my  brigade  immediately.  On  the 
receipt  of  this,  you  will  march  the  troops  under  your  command 
immediately  to  this  camp.  You  will  make  ail  possible  expe- 
dition, as  the  enemy  has  embarked  part,  if  not  all,  the  troops 
on  Staten  island,  and  are  making  dispositions  as  if  they  in- 
tended to  land  here.  You  will  send  out  scouts  and  parties  to  get 
intelligence.  If  the  enemy  should  make  their  landing  good  on 
any  part  of  the  island  and  hear  of  your  coming,  they  may  send 
out  a  party  to  intercept  your  march.  Keep  good  front,  flank, 
and  rear  guards,  to  prevent  being  surprised. 

I  am,  sir,  your  most  obedient,  humble  servant, 

NATHANIEL  GREENE. 

Col.  JosiAH  Smith. 

*  Two  hundred  men,  by  express  orders  from  Gen.  Sullivan,  marched 
down  to  Brooklyn  from  Jerusalem,  when  the  British  landed,  to  tiie  tune 
of  Yankee  Doodle. — Ed. 

94.  -4w^.  10.  One-half  the  militia  of  Kings  and  Queen? 
counties  was  ordered  to  march  immediately  to  Brooklyn  ;  the 
levies  from  Kings  and  Queens  to  be  formed  into  one  regiment 
under  command  of  Col.  Jeromus  Remsen,  Lieut.  Col.  Nich. 
Covenhoven,  Major  Richard  Thome,  and  continue  in  service 
till  September  1.* 

*  Capt.  And'w  Onderdonk's  company  lay  at  Bedford,  in  the  barn  of 
Lambert  Suydam,  and  marched  daily  to  Brooklyn  to  throw  up  the  forti- 
fications. 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 


85 


95.  Aug.  19.  Washington  recommends  that  the  women, 
children,  and  infirm,  be  removed  from  the  city,  as  their 
shrieks  and  cries,  as  they  run  about  the  streets,  dishearten  the 
young  and  inexperienced  soldiers. 

£200  voted  to  Flushing  for  the  support  of  the  poor  sent 
there  from  New- York.  The  committees  throughout  the  State 
were  enjoined  to  show  hospitality  to  the  fugitives. 

96.  Aug.  12.  Capt.  P.  Nostrand  was  stationed  at  Far 
Rockaway  with  forty-six  men,  to  guard  the  coast.  There 
was  a  guard  at  David  Mott's,  and  at  Hog  Island  inlet  was  a 
guard  boat.  A  guard  was  often  put  on  board  fishing  boats, 
to  prevent  their  giving  information  to  the  British  fleet,  t3 
which  the  disaffected  used  to  carry  water,  eggs,  gammons, 
butter,  and  fresh  provisions. 

A  true  and  exact  list  of  the  men  in  actual  service  in  Capt.  Peter  Nos- 
trands  Company,  stationed  at  Far  Rockaway  *  this  day  reviewed,  and 
all  found  to  be  able  and  effective  men. 

Benj.Cornwell,  1st  Sergeant.  Rogers  HamiUon,  Drummer, 

Martin  Ryerson,  2d     do.  Tunis  Van  Coit,  Fifer. 

Abm.  Probasco,   3J     do. 

Privates. 
Samuel  Searing,  Richard  Cornwell,  John  Bennet, 

Richard  Seaman,  John  Gibson,  Daniel  Luyster, 

William  Johnson,  Jacob  Williams,  Benj.  Kirby, 

John  Davis,  JohnTownsend,  George  Monfort, 

Wm.  Beedle,  Samuel  Valentine,  John  Probasco, 

John  Newbury,  John  Wright,  George  Bogart, 

John  Doxy,  John  Brickie,  Samuel  Mott, 

Wm.  Demott,  Wm.  Birdsall,  James  Pine, 

Jacob  Hendrickson,        Cornelius  Hoogland,        Andris  Cashow, 
Simon  Voorhies,  Wm.  Bennet,  Rich'd  Weeks,  sick. 

Thomas  Akerly,  John  Baker,  Rem  Hortenburgh, 

Isaac  Hendrickson,  George  Downing,  Isaac  Remsen — 40. 

Aug.  10,  1776.  Received  of  Col.  Sands,  $200,  part  bounty  of  forty 
of  Capt.  Peter  Xostrand's  company,  returned  as  drafts. 

THOS.  WILLIAMS,  Lieutenant. 
*  Isaiah  Doxey  says  the  Americans  had  a  force  stationed  with  pitched 
tents,  at  Far  Rockaway.     Nelly  Cornell,  looking  out  of  an  upper  win- 

5 


86  RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 

dow,  called  to  the  American  officer,  and  told  him  she  saw  "  trees  rising 
from  the  ocean."  He  looked,  called  another  officer,  and  said,  "that's 
the  British  fleet ;  down  with  the  tents,  and  let's  be  off  to  the  ferry." 
Wagons  were  then  impressed  to  convey  the  baggage,  and  all  the  cattle 
were  driven  off. 

Camp,  Long  Island,  Aug.  19,  1776. 

97.  I,  the  subscriber,  went  down  to  Rockaway  just  at  day- 
break, with  my  company  of  Light  Horse,  pursuant  to  an  order 
from  Brig.  Gen.  Heard,  to  take  care  of  some  boats.     At  the 

house  of Van  Brockle,  I  discovered  a  number  of  men 

issue  out  of  the  door  and  run,  some  of  them  partly  dressed, 
and  some  in  their  shirts  only.  Immediately  I  ordered  my  men 
to  pursue  them,  and  presently  overtook  three  of  their  number, 
and  took  them  prisoners.  Two  of  them  got  to  the  woods  and 
hid  under  the  bushes  ;  on  finding  them,  I  ordered  them  to  sur- 
render. One  of  them  did ;  the  other  absolutely  refused,  al- 
though one  of  my  men  had  his  gun  presented  to  his  breast ; 
on  which  my  men  ahghted  and  took  him. 

After  I  had  taken  six  prisoners,  I  examined  the  beach  and 
found  a  boat  and  four  oars,  and  a  paddle.  In  the  boat  were 
three  sheep,  four  ducks,  and  a  large  bottle  with  water. 

LAMBERT  SUYDAM,  Captain  of  the  Ti^oop. 

98.  Aug.  24.  Congress  order  half  the  Western  Regiment 
of  Suffolk,  with  five  days'  provisions,  to  march  into  the 
western  part  of  Queens,  and  that  the  officers  of  the  militia  of 
Queens  order  out  the  whole  militia,  with  the  troop  of  horse, 
and  use  all  diligence  to  prevent  the  stock  falling  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy ;  that  the  captain  of  the  troop  of  horse 
of  Kings  county  join  said  militia ;  and  that  the  inhabitants 
of  Queens  (not  of  the  militia)  assist,  when  ordered. 

List  of  Field  Officers — qjart  of  Suffolk  and  Queens. 
Col.  JosiahSmith*  Major  Abm.  Rcmsen. 

Lt.  Col.  Jno.  Sands. 

Staff  Officers. 
Chaplain .  Surgeon . 


Adjt.  Thos.  Waterman.  Surgeon's  Mate 

Q.  Master  Increase  Carpenter. 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 


87 


Ojficers.—No.l. 


Capt,  Zeph'h  Rogers, 
1st  Lt.  Edward  Tapping. 

1st  Sergt.  Hugh  Gelston. 

2d     do.     Timothy  Halsey. 

3d     do.     David  Lupton. 

No.  2. 

Capt.  Nathan'l  Piatt. 
1st  Lt.  Sam'l  Smith. 

1st.  Sergt.  John  Stratton. 

2d     do.     John  Carll. 

3d     do.     Jesse  Bunce. 

No.  3. 
Capt.  Benj.  Coe. 
1st  Lt. Furman. 

1st  Sergt. Penfold. 

2d     do.     Furman. 

3d     do.     Leveridge. 

No.  A. 
Capt.  Peter  Nostrand. 
1st  Lt.  Thos.  Williams. 

1st  Sergt.  Benj.  Cornell. 

2d     do.     Martin  Ryerson. 

3d     do.     Abm.  Probasco. 


No.b. 


Capt.  ■ 
1st  Lt 


Wicks. 


—  Brush. 

1st  Sergt. Kelcham. 

2d     do. Vail. 

3d     do. Sammis. 


2d  Lt,  Paul  Jones. 

1st  Corp.  Jehiel  Howell 
2d  do.  Elias  Pierson. 
3d     do.     Jona.  Cook. 

2d  Lt.  Henry  Scudder. 

1st  Corp.  James  Hubbs. 
2d     do.     Jed'h  Mills. 
3d     do.     John  Hart. 


2dLt. 


Capt.  R.  Manee. 
1st  Lt.  — 


1st  Sergt. 
2d     do. 
3d     do. 

Capt. 

IstLt. 


—  Townsend. 

Burr. 

Roe. 

Hicks. 

Strong. 

-  Brewster. 


1st  Corp.  Gabriel  Smith. 

2d     do.     Glinworth. 

3d     do.     Furman. 


2d  Lt.  John  Carman. 

1st  Corp.  Rem  Hardenbergh. 

2d     do. . 

3d     do. . 


2dLt. 


Whitman. 


1st  Corp. 
2d     do. 
3d     do. 


Resco. 

Concklin. 

Kelsey. 


m.  6. 


2dLt. 


Town.send. 


1st  Corp. 
2d     do. 
3d     do. 


—  Mitchell. 

—  Jackson. 


No.l. 


2dLt. 


Brewster. 


88  RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 

1st  Sergt. WoodhuU.  1st  Corp. Hawkins. 

2d     do.     Smith.  2d     do.     Marvin. 

3d     do. Woodhull.  3d     do.     Lyons. 

No.  8. 

Capt. Youngs.  2d  Lt. Hicks. 

1st  Lt. Robert. 

1st  Sergt. Beasly.  1st  Corp, Backet. 

2d     do.     King.  2d     do. Lawey. 

3d     do. Cornwell.  3d     do.     Smith. 

No.  9. 

Capt. Reeve.  2d  Lt. Benjamin. 

1st  Lt. Curen. 

1st  Sergt.  Wheelock  Roe.  1st  Corp, Solomon. 

2d     do.     Rich'd  Hubbard.  2d     do. Havens. 

3d     do.     Nath'l  Concklin.  3d     do.     Wells. 

No.  10. 

Capt. Ludlam.  2d  Lt. Martin. 

1st  Lt. Carpenter. 

1st  Sergt. Thurston.  1st  Corp.  Obadiah  Smith. 

2d     do. Higbie.  2d     do.     Noah  Smith. 

3d     do. 3d     do. . 


No.  11, 


Capt. Birdsall. 


[Broke  up  ?] 
No.  12. 

Capt. Mulford.  2d  Lt. PLand. 

1st  Lt. Sayre. 

1st  Sergt.  M.  Mulford.  1st  Corp.  Henry  Sherrel. 

2d     do.     Pierson.  2d     do.     Benj.  Crook. 

3d     do.     Domini.  3d     do.     Ludlum  Parsons. 

*  Col.  Hitcljcock's   and  Col.  Smith's  regiment  are  to  do  duty  in  Gen.  Nixon'8 
brigade  5  Col.  Van  iJrunt  and  Col.  Gray,  do.  in  Gen.  Heard's  brigade. 

99.  Aug.  25.  Congress  resolved,  that  all  horses,  horned 
cattle  and  sheep,  south  of  the  ridge  of  hills  in  Queens  county, 
be  removed  to  the  east  end  of  Hempstead  Plains ;  that  tlie 
inhabitants  remove  all  grain  now  in  barns  or  barracks  to  a 
distance  from  buildings,  that  it  may  be  burnt,  if  necessary,  lo 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  89 

prevent  its  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy:  that  Gen. 
WoodhuU  take  post  on  the  ridge  of  hills,  as  near  the  enemy 
as  he  thinks  proper,  to  check  their  excursions,  and  should 
he  be  compelled  to  retreat,  that  he  remove  or  destroy  the 
stock  and  grain,  and  dismantle  the  mills  by  carrying  away 
the  upper  stone. 

Aug.  27.  Gen.  Woodhull  was  at  Jamaica  with  less  than 
100  men.  He  had  sent  off  all  the  cattle  to  Hempstead 
Plains.  In  the  afternoon  he  was  in  the  western  part  of 
Queens,  and  received  100  men  from  Col.  Potter,  of  Hunt- 
ington, 40  militia  of  the  regiment  of  Queens,  and  50  of  the 
troop  of  Kings  and  Queens.  All  cattle  south  of  the  hills 
were  driven  east  of  the  cross  roads,  and  guards  were  set 
from  the  north  road  to  the  south  side  of  the  island  to  cut  off 
the  communication  of  the  British  and  Tories,  and  keep  the 
cattle  from  going  back. 

He  was  within  six  miles  of  the  British  camp,  and  their 
lieht-horse  had  been  within  two  miles  of  him.* 

*  Wm.  Howard  says, "  The  British,  3  o'clock  A.  M.,  Aug.  27,  were  in- 
fomed  by  their  friends  that  the  cowboys,  i.  e.  Gen.  WoodhuU's  party  of  300 
or  350  men,  were  lying  in  Johannis  Polhemus'  bam,  (late  Luke  Eldert's,) 
near  the  dividing  line  of  Queens  and  Kings  counties,  with  their  cattle. 
The  British  sent  a  detachment  of  light-horse  to  seize  them,  but  learning 
from  Joseph  Howard  that  their  number  was  700,  (some  whig  having 
ingeniously  exaggerated  it,)  the  detachment  was  recalled.  In  conse- 
quence, Woodhull  got  off  to  Carpenter's  inn,  where,  'tis  said,  some  of  his 
men  were  seized  in  a  barn,  the  rest  being  destroyed  or  fled.  The  next 
morning  (it  was  wet  and  misty)  Woodhull  and  other  prisoners  were 
brought  to  Howard's.  His  wife  went  out  to  Woodhull  under  the  shed 
and  asked  him  if*he  would  have  some  refreshments.  She  then  gave  him 
some  bread  and  butter  and  smoked  beef  and  wine  sangaree.  His  head 
was  tied  up,  and  he  had  other  wounds.  She  also  treated  the  American 
prisoners.  Woodhull  was  first  taken  to  Brooklyn  church  (that  stood  in 
the  middle  of  the  street),  thence  to  New  Utrecht." 

100.  Aug.  28.  Dr.  Riker  informs  Maj.  Lawrence  that 
a  number  of  scattering  troops  had  posted  themselves  on  the 
ridge  of  hills  between  Newtown  and  Jamaica  :  that  they  had 


90  RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 

been  in  many  houses  :  had  taken  victuals  and  drink,  but  had 
not  plundered,  as  he  understood. 

Woodhull  writes  to  Congress  : — 

"  I  must  again  let  you  know  my  situation  :  I  have  about  70 
men  and  20  of  the  troop,  which  is  all  the  force  I  have  or  can 
expect,  and  1  am  daily  growing  less  in  number ;  the  people  are 
so  alarmed  in  Suffolk  that  they  will  not  any  more  of  them 
march ;  and  as  to  Col.  Smith's  and  Remsen's  regiments,  they 
cannot  join  me,  for  the  communication  is  cut  off  between  us. 
I  have  sent  about  1100  cattle  to  the  great  fields  on  the  plains 
yesterday,  and  about  300  more  are  gone  off  this  morning  to 
the  same  place,  and  I  have  ordered  a  guard  of  an  officer  and 
seven  privates.  They  can  get  no  water  in  these  fields.  My 
men  and  horses  are  worn  out  with  fatigue.  The  cattle  are  not 
all  gone  off  toward  Hempstead :  I  ordered  them  yesterday,  but 
they  were  not  able  to  take  them  along.  I  brought  yesterday 
about  300  from  Newtown.  I  think  the  cattle  in  as  much  danger 
on  the  north  as  on  the  south  side,  and  have  ordered  the  inhab- 
itants to  remove  them,  if  you  cannot  send  me  an  immediate 
reinforcement." 

The  Congress  ordered  that  Mr.  Hobart  and  Mr.  James 
Townsend  be  a  committee  to  repair  to  Gen.  Woodhull  and 
assist  him  with  their  advice,  and  that  they  cause  all  such 
stock  and  grain  in  Queens  and  the  western  part  of  Suffolk 
as  may  be  in  danger  of  falling  into  the  enemy's  hands  to  be 
destroyed ;  and  that  said  committee  be  empowered  to  impress 
horses,  persons  and  boats  to  convey  themselves  to  Gen. 
Woodhull  with  the  utmost  dispatch. 

101.  Congress  had  sent,  Aug.  26,  a  letter  to  the  several 
towns  in  Connecticut,  requesting  their  assistance  in  removing 
from  Long  Island  the  stock,  "  which  amounted  to  between 
80,000  and  100,000  head  of  cattle,  and  as  many  sheep  :  and 
to  lend  their  aid  to  such  of  the  inhabitants  as  may  wish  to 
remove." 

Aug.  29.  Mr.  Van  Wyck,  from  Flushing,  reports  that 
the  enemy's  ships  lie   between  Thome's  (since  AVilkins') 


THE    REVOLUTIO.NARY    SPIRIT.  91 

Point  and  Great  Neck  ;*  and  that  troops  for  the  aid  of  Wood- 
hull  may  safely  pass  this  evening  from  New- York  to  Jamaica, 
by  way  of  Flushing. 

Samuel  Townsend  was  sent  to  Gen.  Woodhull  to  inform 
him  of  the  proceedings  of  Congress  on  the  subject  of  his 
letters,  and  that  Col.  Smith's  and  Remsen's  regiments  were 
shut  up  in  the  lines  and  could  not  be  sent  him. 

*  The  cattle  were  all  driven  off  Great  Neck.  Aug.  26  the  enemy's 
vessels  Halifax,  La  Brun  and  Niger  sailed  round  Montauk,  plundered 
Hart  and  City  Islands,  and  got  twelve  or  fourteen  head  of  cattle,  besides 
sheep,  ducks,  &.c.  Several  persons  came  on  board  from  Long  Island- 
Two  vessels,  one  the  Bloom,  lay  under  Long  Island  shore,  August  28, 
opposite  Frog's  Point.     Two  of  Henry  Allen's  negroes  were  on  board 

102.  Col.  Smith  informs  Congress  that  Washington  has 
ordered  his  regiment  to  withdraw  from  Long  Island. 

Resolved)  That  Samuel  Townsend  and  Maj.  Lawrence 
attend  the  regiment,  supply  it  with  provisions,  impress  horses, 
wagons  or  boats  to  transport  said  regiment  from  Long  Island. 
XlOO  voted  for  that  purpose. 

Col.  Smith's  regiment  ordered  to  Hoorn's  Hook,  there  to 
receive  further  orders  from  Samuel  Townsend  and  Major 
Lawrence. 

Col.  Remsen  followed  the  Convention  from  Harlem  to 
Philipse's  Manor,  and  requested  to  know  what  disposition  to 
make  of  his  regiment,  when  it  was  recommended  that  the 
militia  be  formed  into  companies,  with  a  bounty  of  £4  to 
each  man. 

Col.  Remsen  was  authorized  to  grant  furloughs  to  his 
militia  to  visit,  or  remove  their  families  from  Long  Island — 
none  to  carry  arms  with  them. 

Aug.  31.  £215  12  was  voted  Col.  Remsen  for  pay  due 
his  regiment. 

Sept.  3.  The  Committee  of  Safety,  in  session  at  Fishkill, 
hearing  that  Col.  Smith's  and  Remsen's  regiments  are  dis- 
persed, or  have  been  disbanded   without   permission  of  the 


92  KISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 

State,  resolved  "  that  Gen.  Clinton  detain  as  many  of  said 
levies  as  possible,  even  if  they  produce  passes,  it  being  of 
the  utmost  consequence  that  so  large  a  number  of  armed 
men  should  not  be  added  to  the  enemy's  power  on  Long 
Island,  and  that  the  committees  of  West  Chester,  Horse 
Neck,  Stamford  and  Norwalk,  diligently  watch  all  boats 
passing  from  the  Main  to  Long  Island." 

Most  of  the  mJlitia  recrossed  to  Long  Island  and  took 
British  protection,  to  save  their  property  from  confiscation 
and  their  families  from  insult.  Some  followed  Congress  to 
Fishkill,  where  we  find  Lt.  Onderdonk  "  in  some  distress ;  " 
and  Capt.  B.  Coe  "  in  distressed  circumstances,"  who 
received  £20  due  him. 

*  Col.  Smith  returned  to  Long  Island,  and  was  subsequently  taken 
from  his  house  at  Moriches,  and  thrown  in  Provost  by  the  British.  His 
daughter  Hannah,  in  her  labors  and  excursions  to  procure  his  release, 
caught  a  cold  that  brought  on  a  deafness,  from  which  she  never  recovered. 

103.  It  is  not  known  precisely  what  duties  the  Queens 
county  militia  performed  at  Brooklyn,  other  than  throwing 
up  fortifications  and  standing  guard  at  the  outposts  and 
ferries.  Capt.  Jacob  Wright,  of  Jamaica,  and  Capt.  Van 
Nuyse,  of  Kings  county,  formed  two  companies  in  Col. 
Lasher's  1st  New-York  battalion,  in  Scott's  brigade.  The 
Kings  and  Queens  county  militia  guarded  alternate  days  at 
the  Flatbush  pass.  On  the  day  of  battle  Capt.  Wright's 
men  were  in  Cobble  Hill  fort.  The  Queens  county  militia 
often  spoke  of  lying  behind  the  lines  when  the  British  shot 
whistled  over  their  heads.  Putnam  rode  along  the  lines, 
and  every  now  and  then  checking  Iiis  horse,  would  say, 
"  Gentlemen,  by  your  dress  I  conclude  you  are  countrymen, 
and  if  so,  are  good  marksmen.  Now  don't  fire  till  you  see 
the  white  of  their  eyes."  As  we  intend  to  give  a  detailed 
account  of  the  battle  of  Long  Island  in  anotJier  volume,  we 
purposely  abstain  from  any  remarks  here.  We  annex  some 
pay  rolls  of  the  Queens  county  militia. 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 


93 


A  Pay  Roll  of  the  Officers,  non-commissioned  Officers,  and  Privates, 
of  Capt.  Benj.  Coe's  Company  of  Militia,  in  Col.  Josiah  Smith's 
Regiment,  in  Queens  County,  stationed  on  Long  Island,  to  guard  the 
stock  and  inhabitants. 


Names. 

Rank. 

1^ 

W) 

.C 

1-^ 
o 

O 

M  O 

o 

1 

July 

Aug. 

$ 

£    s.d. 

Benjamin  Coe, 

Captain.  \  25 

31 

8 

26i 

13  10  2 

Robert  Furman, 

1st  Lieut.  1    " 

" 

8 

18 

9     2  8 

Wm.  Penfold, 

Sergeant. 

<c 

<( 

8 

8 

4    2  2 

Nathan  Furman, 

'( 

" 

« 

8 

8 

4    2  2 

Gabriel  Leveridge, 

(t 

" 

(( 

8 

8 

4    2  2 

Gabriel  Smith, 

Corporal. 

" 

" 

8 

7^ 

3  14  3 

Thomas  Gillinworth, 

" 

" 

(( 

8 

n 

3  14  3 

John  Furman, 

" 

" 

« 

8 

7^ 

3  14  3 

Abm.  Norris, 

Drummer. 

" 

« 

8 

n 

3  14  3 

Robt.  North, 

Fifer. 

It 

(( 

8 

7i 

3  14  3 

Jas.  Hallet,  3d. 

Private. 

" 

11 

8 

6| 

3     7  6 

Samuel  Blaclcwell, 

« 

" 

« 

8 

6| 

3     7  6 

Isaac  Smith, 

« 

« 

t( 

8 

6| 

3     7  6 

Nathaniel  Hallet, 

ft 

" 

<t 

8 

61 

3     7  6 

Peter  Bragaw, 

(I 

(( 

<( 

2 

8 

61 

3     7  6 

Jeromus  Rapelye, 

{( 

" 

" 

8 

6f 

3     7  6 

John  Devine, 

<f 

" 

" 

8 

6f 

3     7  6 

Benj,  Cornish, 

" 

" 

" 

8 

61 

3     7  6 

Luke  Remsen, 

" 

" 

(( 

8 

61 

3     7  6 

John  Burrroughs, 

" 

« 

<c 

8 

6f 

3     7  6 

Stephen  Parsell, 

" 

" 

<f 

8 

6| 

3     7  6 

James  Parsell, 

« 

" 

c< 

8 

6f 

3     7  6 

Isaac  Parsell, 

« 

« 

t( 

8 

6! 

3     7  6 

James  Morrell, 

« 

" 

<t 

8 

6§ 

3     7  6 

Seaman  Denton, 

" 

" 

« 

8 

6| 

3     7  6 

John  Cornish, 

(C 

" 

« 

8 

6? 

3     7  6 

Gilbert  Ketcham, 

t< 

(t 

8 

6f 

3     7  6 

Elnathan  Leverich, 

(t 

€t 

<< 

8 

6| 

3     7  6 

Jacob  Bond, 

€. 

t< 

8 

6| 

3     7  6 

Nathaniel  Pettit, 

it               '      €i 

(< 

8 

3     7  6 

Abm.  Parsells, 

i<               1      <• 

(t 

8 

6f 

3     7  6 

Daniel  Rapelye, 

«       !  « 

<< 

8 

68 

3     7  6 

Simon  Bloom, 

«          ' ' 

« 

8 

6? 
6§ 

3     7  6 

Charles  Boerum, 

«•' 

" 

8 

3     7  6 

Piatt  Smith, 

" 

c< 

" 

8 

6| 

3     7  6 

Wm.  Betts, 

" 

<< 

u 

8 

6! 

3     7  6 

Edmund  Penfold, 

" 

.c 

«< 

8 

6| 

3     7  6 

John  Betts, 

« 

„ 

« 

8 

6| 

3     7  6 

Nicholas  Bogart, 

« 

« 

<( 

8 

61 

3     7  6 

5* 


94 


RISE    AND   PROGRESS    OF 


k 

l^ 

Names. 

Rank. 

1- 

-3 

1 

i 

CO     c 

Amount. 

o 

H 

S 

Q 

^ 

July 

Aug. 

$ 

jC     s.    d. 

Arthur  Antice, 

Private. 

25 

31 

8 

61 

3     7     6 

John  Thomas, 

« 

8 

61 

3     7     6 

James  Norn, 

t< 

8 

6f 

3     7     6 

Andrew  Bay, 

" 

8 

6f 

3     7     6 

William  Howard, 

8 

61 

3     7     6 

Evert  Collins, 

8 

6f 

3     7     6 

Abm.  Golder, 

" 

8 

6f 

3     7     6 

£175     0     7 


One  hundred  and  eighty  rations  for  one  captain  and  one 
lieutenant,  for  one  month  and  eight  days,  at  lOjd.  per  ration, 

Eight  hundred  and  eighty  rations  for  forty-four  men, 
twenty  days. 


7  17  6 


38  10  0 


X221     8     1 


Aug.  18.     Drew  provisions. 

Fay  Roll  of  the  Officers,  non-commissioned  Officers,  and  Privates,  of 
Capt.  Richard  Manee's  Company  of  Militia,  raised  in  Queens 
County,  commanded  by  Col.  Josiah  Smith,  stationed  part  of  the  time 
on  the  shores  at  Cow  and  Great  Neck,  and  part  of  the  time  at  New- 
York  Ferry. 


Names  of  Officers,  non-com- 

S 

S..d 

missioned      Officers,     and 

Rank. 

.^ 

c 

-C 

?>  = 

Amount. 

Men. 

E"" 

^ 

o 

>. 

^F 

o 

Q 

^ 

July 

Aug. 

f 

£    s.    d. 

Richard  Mance, 

Captain. 

23 

31 

10 

26^ 

14    5    0 

Jotham  Townsend, 

1st  Lieut. 

25 

8 

18 

9     2     1 

Richard  Townsend, 

2d  Lieut. 

« 

8 

18 

9    2     1 

William  Roe, 

Sergeant. 

" 

«< 

8 

8 

4     0     9 

Samuel  Burr, 

" 

" 

«' 

8 

8 

4     0     9 

Austin  Mitchell, 

'< 

23 

•< 

10 

8 

4     5     0 

Jacob  Jacobs, 

Corporal. 

u 

" 

10 

7* 

3  14    0 

John  Vetito, 

'< 

25 

(< 

8 

7^ 

3  11     3 

Alexander  Hubs, 

" 

" 

« 

8 

7^ 

3  11     3 

Isaac  SnifTen, 

Private. 

23 

«< 

10 

6f 

3  11     1 

Lawrence  Masten, 

«« 

<f 

<( 

10 

6| 

3  11     1 

Jonathan  Mott, 

" 

" 

25 

1 

41 

6J 

3     0     6 

THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT- 


95 


Names. 

Rank.      c  i 
Julyi 

Amount. 

^ug 

$    £     s.    d. 

Samuel  Jacobs, 

Private. 

23 

31      1  10 

6!    3  11     1 

Thomas  Carpenter, 

(( 

" 

"       1  LO 

6§ 

3  11     1 

Nathaniel  Smith, 

u 

(( 

"       110 

6t 

3  11     1 

Edwin  Sands, 

<« 

■" 

"       1  10 

61 

3  11     1 

John  Burtis, 

" 

" 

"       110 

6t 

3  11     1 

Benjamin  Sands, 

u 

" 

1  10 

6| 
6^ 

3  U     1 

William  Danford, 

" 

« 

"       110 

3  11     1 

William  Drawer, 

" 

a 

"       110 

6§ 

3  11     1 

John  Frits, 

u 

" 

-       110 

61 

3  11     1 

William  Ryan, 

" 

M 

"     no 

6§ 

3  11     1 

Caleb  Kirby, 

K 

" 

"     110 

6t 

3  11     1 

Richard  Thome, 

" 

" 

"     1 10 

6t 

3  11     1 

James  Allen, 

<' 

« 

"      1  ic 

6t 

3  11     1 

Stephen  Hicks, 

" 

" 

"     11c 

6t 

3  11     I 

William  Hicks, 

U 

<C 

'•     11c 

>      61 

3  11     1 

Daniel  Ireland, 

" 

" 

*'     11c 

)      6! 

3  11     1 

John  Goalden, 

" 

" 

"     11c 

)      6? 

3  11     1 

Wm.  Baker, 

" 

u 

"     ii( 

)      61 

3  11     1 

Richard  Valentine, 

u 

K 

1  u 

)      6! 

3  11     i 

Gabriel  Lawrence, 

fl 

" 

"       IK 

)      6§ 

3  11     i 

Wm.  Fowler, 

11 

(( 

"       1  I 

3      6! 

3  11     1 

Robt.  Wilson, 

M 

i( 

"       11 

D     61 

3  11     1 

Samuel  Clayton, 

'^ 

« 

"11 

0      6§ 

3  11     1 

William  Akerley, 

" 

(( 

"       11 

0      6? 

3  11     1 

John  Sterkins, 

« 

25 

"       11 

0      6§ 

3     7     6 

John  Jackson, 

" 

" 

"       11 

0      6§ 

3     7     6 

Obadiah  Lawrence, 

" 

" 

"       1  1 

0      6! 

3     7     6 

Selick  Jones, 

" 

" 

"       11 

0      61 

3     7     6 

Charles  Justice,  (d.) 

Henry  Craft, 

"       ■ 

" 

"       1  1 

0     6| 

3     7     6 

Richard  Jenner, 

^' 

a 

"       1  1 

0     6i 

3     7     6 

John  Colder,  (d.) 

Darius  Hall, 

<i 

u 

"       11 

0     61 

3     7     6 

Michael  Frost, 

«< 

1     " 

"       1  I 

0     61 

3     7     6 

Benj.  Downing, 

" 

« 

"       1  1 

0     61 

3     7     6 

Peter  Hall, 

<•< 

<< 

1  1 

0     6| 

3     7     6 

Christopher  Craig,  (d.) 

Wm.  Goalden,  (d.) 

Jacob  Craig,  (d.) 

Wm.  Baker, 

« 

^' 

1  1 

0     6. 

13     7    6 

Edmund  Stickling, 

" 

i( 

"       11 

0     6 

1    3     7     6 

Richard  Weeks, 

" 

« 

"       1  1 

0     6 

1    3     7     6 

Edmund  Kinsey, 

•^ 

<i 

"       1  J 

0      6 

i    3     7     6 

Daniel  Burr, 

" 

" 

"       1  1 

0     6 

1    3     7     6 

96 


RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 


^J 

Names. 

Rank.       c  ^ 

^.2 

e2| 

js 

^..r. 

Amount. 

c 
o 

1^ 

July 

Aug. 

$ 

£     s.    d. 

Wm.  Tanner, 

Private. 

25 

31 

10 

6f 

3     7     6 

Timothy  Williams, 

" 

10 

5f 

3     7     6 

Wm.  Brombush, 

" 

10 

6f 

3     7     6 

Jotham  Weeks, 

" 

10 

6^ 

3     7     6 

Solomon  Wooden, 

" 

10 

6^ 

3     7     6 

Nicholas  Bennet, 

" 

10 

Ci 

3     7     6 

Henry  Townsend, 

" 

10 

61 

3     7     6 

William  Hall, 

" 

10 

61 

3     7     6 

£228  13     4 


Rations  for  a  captain,  twenty- 
seven  days,  at  three  rations  per  day,       81 

Rations  for  two  lieutenants, 
twenty-five  days,  at  two  rations  per 
day  each,  100 

Rations  for  twenty-seven  privates, 
twenty-five  days,  at  one  ration  per 
day  each,  675 

Rations  for  twenty-nine  privates, 
twenty-seven  days,  at  one  ration  per 
day  each,  783 


1639  rations  at  lO^d. 


71  14  1 


jCSOO  7  5 
I  do  certify  upon  honor,  that  the  above  is  a  just  and  true  pay  roll,  and 
that  the  above  persons  have  been,  bona  fide,  in  the  service  of  the  United 
Colonics  in  the  several  and  respective  stations  as  charged  above;  and 
that  the  rations  there  charged  are  justly  due.  Received  public  provisions, 
August  18,  1776. 

RICHARD  MANEE,  Captain. 

I  do  certify  that  the  above  is  a  just  and  true  return  of  the  pay  and 
rations  due  the  above  company  under  my  command. 

JOHN  SANDS,  Colonel. 

Examined  and  allowed  the  above  account  of  three  hundred  pounds 
seven  shillings  and   five  pence.     September  4, 1776. 

COMFORT  SANDS. 
To  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esq. 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 


97 


Pay  Roll  of  the  Officers,  Non-commissioned  Officers,  and  Frivates,  of 
Capt.  Wm.  Ludlum's  Company  of  Militia,  raised  in  Queens  County, 
commanded  by  Col.  Josiah  Smith,  stationed  part  of  the  time  on  the 
shores  on  the  south  side  of  Jamaica,  and  part  of  the  time  at  New- 
York  Ferry.     Aug.  31,  1776. 


G    > 

c  si 





S    • 

Names  of  officers,  non-com- 

"i 

oj 

IB    % 

c 

missioned  officers  and  pri- 

Rank.      S  -o 

^.2 

C3 

CO 

M  2 

§ 

vates. 

o   >> 

O 

1  = 

g 
<1 

July 

Aug. 

$ 

£   s.  d. 

VVm.  Ludlum, 

Captain 

25 

31 

8 

261 

13  10   2 

Increase  Carpenter, 

1st  Lieut. 

" 

8 

18 

9    2    1 

Ephraim  Marston, 

2d  Lieut. 

a 

« 

8 

18 

9    2    1 

Benj.  Thurston, 

1st.  Sergt. 

« 

« 

8 

8 

4    0   9 

Hend'k  Hendrickson, 

2d  Sergt. 

" 

" 

8 

8 

4    0   9 

Obadiah  Smith, 

Corporal 

" 

" 

8 

7i 

3  14  3 

Noah  Smith, 

(( 

11 

" 

8 

7^ 

3  14   3 

Nicholas  Lamberson, 

Drummer 

ii 

" 

8 

n 

3  14  3 

Bernardus  Rider, 

Fifer 

(I 

" 

8 

7i 

3  14  3 

Samuel  Higbie, 

Private 

(t 

« 

8 

61 

3    7   6 

John  Innes, 

<( 

(I 

i< 

8 

61    3    7    6 

Isaac  Van  Osdol, 

ii 

ii 

« 

8 

6§ 

3    7   6 

Aaron  Hendrickson, 

<t 

li 

li 

8 

61 

3    7    6 

Stephen  Rider, 

<c 

a 

u 

8 

61 

3    7   6 

Nehemiah  Ludlum, 

'C 

<c 

i< 

8 

61 

3    7   6 

Nehemiah  Bailey, 

" 

.-« 

a 

8 

6t 

3    7   6 

Wm.  Stine, 

<( 

11 

<< 

8 

61 

3    7   6 

Nicholas  Lamberson, 

i< 

« 

" 

8 

6t 

3    7   6 

Cornelius  Creed, 

'< 

" 

(( 

8 

6t 

3    7   6 

Sylvester  Smith, 

« 

<( 

" 

8 

61 

3    7   6 

Thomas  Brady, 

" 

« 

« 

8 

61 

3    7   6 

Mac  Lean, 

'< 

" 

(t 

8 

6§ 

3    7   6 

Patrick  Gantley,  d.. 

John  Bennet, 

« 

<« 

<< 

8 

61 

3    7   6 

Rem  Remsen, 

" 

" 

« 

8 

6! 

3    7    6 

John  Bishop, 

" 

" 

« 

8 

6f 

3    7   6 

Nicholas  Wortman, 

<( 

" 

'< 

8 

6f 

3    7   6 

John  Smith, 

" 

" 

« 

8 

6§ 

3    7   6 

Stephen  Higbie,  d.. 

Nehemiah  Carpenter, 

" 

(I 

(( 

8 

61 

3    7   6 

Henry  Wiggins, 

" 

" 

« 

8 

61 

3    7    6 

Nehemiah  Smith, 

<< 

" 

«< 

8 

6f 

3    7   6 

John  Bailey, 

" 

11 

" 

8 

6f 

3    7   6 

Samuel  Mills,  d., 

Lawrence  Stivers, 

« 

it 

u 

8 

6f 

3    7    6 

Nathaniel  Box,  d., 

Peter  Frederick, 

" 

« 

" 

8 

61 

3    7   6 

Hend'k  Hendrickson, 

" 

« 

" 

8 

61 

3    7   6 

Abm.  Colder,                          1 

" 

le 

" 

8 

61 

3    7   6 

98 


RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 


M 

03 

c 

Names. 

Rank. 

^5 

i 

03 

a 

M  O 

e 

July. 

Aug. 

$ 

£  8.    d. 

25 

31 

George  Ennis,  d., 

Benj.  Tanner,  d., 

Richard  Betts, 

" 

(( 

(( 

1 

8 

6? 

3    7   6 

Charles  Smith, 

(( 

u 

(( 

1 

8 

6f 

3    7   6 

Nicholas  Ludlum,  d., 

Abm.  Ditmars, 

« 

« 

u 

1 

8 

6! 

3    7   6 

X149    2  10 
Rations  due  from  July  25  to  Aug.  18,  1776 : 

One  captain,  twenty-six  days,  three 
rations  per  day,  78 

Two  lieutenants,  twenty-six  days, 
two  rations  per  day,  104 

Thirty-five  non-commissioned  offi- 
cers and  privates,  twenty-six  days,        910 

1092  rations,  at  lOid.,     47  15  6 

i;i96  18  4 


A  Pay  Boll  of  Lt.  Jno.  FoberCs  Company  of  Militia,  raised  at  Flush- 
ing, in  Queens  County,  belonging  to  Col.  Josiah  Smith's  Begivient, 
stationed  on  Long  Island,  [at  Far  Fockaway,  Aug.  9,]  to  protect 
the  stock.  The  pay  from  the  time  of  their  enlistment  to  the  31st 
day  of  August,  1776,  both  days  included. 


Names. 

Rank. 

c 

.5 

en 

I4 

^•-^ 

13 

0 

C3 

^fe 

S 

o 

w 

^ 

a 

Oh    fc 

< 

July 

Aug. 

$ 

£ 

s.      d. 

John  Robert, 

1st  Lieut. 

27 

31 

^ 

8 

8 

12     91 

Isaac  Hicks. 

2d       " 

6 

8 

8 

12     9i 

Joseph  Beesley, 

Serjt. 

6 

8 

3 

16     9i 

Lewis  Cornwell, 

" 

6 

8     3 

16     9i 

William  Lowree, 

Corporal 

6 

7i 

3 

10     5 

John  Smith, 

" 

6 

7J 

3 

10     5 

James  Doughty, 

Drummer 

6 

7i 

3 

10     5 

THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 


99 


. 

Names. 

Rank. 

6 

to 

1 

1 

o 

>> 

£•5 

c 

3 
< 

Aug. 

$ 

£ 

S.        d. 

Moses   Fowler, 

Fifer 

July  27 

31 

6 

U 

3 

10      5 

Benj.  Farrington, 

Private 

" 

(( 

6 

6! 

3 

4      0 

John  Mills, 

<i 

tt 

(t 

6 

61 

3 

4      0 

John  Smith, 

'< 

ft 

u 

6 

61 

3 

4      0 

Matthew  Farrington, 

<c 

Aug.  2 

(C 

0 

61 

2 

13      4 

Stephen  Wright, 

" 

(( 

(( 

0 

61 

2 

13      4 

Thomas  Flower, 

(( 

t< 

(( 

0 

6f 

2 

13      4 

Oliver  Thome, 

,c 

Aug.  4 

(( 

28 

6^ 

2 

9    10 

William  McDeane, 

« 

*< 

u 

28 

6f 

2 

9    10 

John  Hulsifer, 

" 

(( 

(( 

28 

61 

2 

9    10 

James  White, 

« 

(( 

tt 

28 

6! 

2 

9    10 

Malcomb  McAuley, 

" 

(( 

(( 

28 

6! 

I 

1      4 

John  Moore, 

1 

Aug.  20 

(( 

12 

61 

3 

4      0 

Jarvis  Dobbs, 

« 

July  27. 

(( 

6 

61 

3 

4      0 

Jacob  Manney, 

tt 

" 

u 

6 

61 

3 

4      0 

Thos.  Talman, 

" 

" 

(( 

6 

6! 

3 

4      0 

Jacob  Huber, 

« 

It 

.( 

1 

6 

6! 

3 

4      0 

John  Parker, 

" 

tt 

u 

] 

6 

61 

3 

4      0 

Jacob  Griffing, 

tt 

tt 

(t 

2 

6 

61 

3 

4      0 

Robert  Wilson, 

<f 

" 

it 

6 

61 

3 

4      0 

Daniel  Hitchcock, 

tt 

tt 

(( 

6 

61 

3 

4      0 

Robt.  Betts, 

« 

" 

(( 

6 

6§ 

3 

4      0 

George  Miller, 

tl 

" 

t( 

6 

6t 

3 

4      0 

jei02 


Rations  due  the  above  company: 

Two  lieutenants,  July  27  to  Aug.  31,- 
thirty-six  days,  two  rations  per  day  each. 

Twenty-seven  non-commissioned  offi- 
cers and  privates,  July  27  to  Aug.  16, 
twenty-one  days,  at  one  ration  per  day,  is 


144 


567 

711    at  lOid., 

31   2    IJ 

i;i33    5    6 

104.  On  the  Americans  abandoning  Long  Island,  the 
King's  army  moved  from  Bedford,  leaving  Heister  with  two 
brigades  of  Hessians  on  the  Heights,  one  brigade  of  British 
at  Bedford,  and  took  five  positions  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Newtown,  Bushwick,  Hell-Gate,  and  Flushing. 


100  RISE    AND    PROGRESS    OF 

Gen.  Robertson,  while  marching  to  the  ferry,  early  on  the 
morning  after  the  retreat,  August  30,  was  ordered  to  Hell-Gate 
to  oppose  Gen.  Lee,  reported  to  be  landing  there  with  an  army. 
He  came  through  Bedford  and  Cripplebush,  the  town  spot  of 
Newtown,*  and  so  on  to  Hell-Gate,t  but  found  no  enemy  there. 
He  then  took  up  his  quarters  at  Wm.  Lawrence's  (now  Whit- 
field's) for  two  weeks,  and  had  10,000  men  encamped  in  tents 
on  the  hill  and  in  Hallet's  lot. 

*  Newtown,  L.  1.,  Aug.  31,  1776.  Maj.  Gen.  Robertson,  responsible 
for  the  actions  of  those  he  commands,  takes  upon  himself  the  responsibility 
of  satisfying  the  people  of  the  village  for  the  depredations  committed  last 
evening  by  part  of  the  1st  brigade,  who  came  for  water.  He  hopes  for 
the  future  his  troops  will  abstain  from  a  crime  which  disgraces  even  vic- 
tory, and  defeats  the  King's  intention  to  protect  and  reclaim  his  American 
subjects. 

t  Wm.  Warne,  from  Long  Island,  reports  to  Congress  that  "  Suffolk 
county  sent  three  hundred  wagons  to  transport  Howe's  baggage  and 
cannon  towards  Newtown  or  Hell-Gate,  and  that  Justice  Kissam  was 
administering  oaths  of  allegiance."  [The  badge  of  loyalty  was  a  red 
cockade,  a  red  ribbon  around  the  hat,  (the  longer  it  streamed  down  behind 
the  more  loyal,)or  even  a  red  flannel  rag  tucked  under  the  hat-band. — Ed.] 

105.  The  British  opened  a  battery  on  a  point  of  land  on^ 
Long  Island,  opposite  the  east  end  of  Blackwell's  Island, 
which  cannonaded  our  fort  at  Horn's  Hook  for  several  days, 
but  to  little  purpose,  we  having  two  men  killed  and  four 
wounded.  The  Americans  returned  the  fire,  and  some  of  the 
shot  fell  on  Wm.  Lawrence's  land.     Gen.  Johnson  says  : 

106.  "The  Rose  passed  through  Buttermilk  channel,  Sept.  12, 
and  anchored  opposite  Bushwick  creek,  near  the  shore.  Next 
day  a  small  breastwork  was  thrown  up  by  the  Americans  at 
Brande  Molen,  or  Burnt  Mill,  on  Stuyvesant's  Point,  opposite 
the  ship.  By  5  P.  M.,  two  heavy  guns  were  mounted,  from 
which  nineteen  shots  were  fired,  eighteen  of  which  hulled  the 
frigate.  The  first  ball  alone  failed:  it  struck  the  railing,  killing 
a  cow  just  delivered  on  board  by  Jacob  Polhemus,  who  was 
himself  on  the  deck. 

''  The  frigate  returned  the  fire,  but  her  shot  fell  short  of  the 
Point.     Night  coming  on,  the  firing  ceased  on  both  sides,  and 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT.  101 

under  cover  of  darkness,  the  frigate  changed  her  position,  and 
anchored  between  BlackwelPs  and  Long  Island,  under  pro- 
tection of  an  intervening  point  of  land. 

"  On  the  evening  of  the  13th,  the  Phenix  and  Dutchess  of 
Gordon*  passed  up  the  channel  to  join  the  Rose,  followed  by  a 
great  number  of  flat-boats  for  the  transportation  of  the  troops. 
Next  morning  all  three  frigates  anchored  opposite  Kip's  Bay, 
near  New- York  shore,  and  opened  a  fire  to  cover  the  landing. 
At  8  A.  M.  their  troops  embarked ;  as  they  passed  the  ships 
the  firing  ceased,  and  the  troops  landed  without  molestation."! 

*  "  Two  British  ships,"  says  Lord  Howe,  "  passed  the  fire  of  the 
American  batteries  at  New-York,  September  13,  and  waited  off"  Bush- 
wick  creek,  opposite  Kip's  Bay.  Six  transports  went  up  the  14th,  ap- 
pointed to  take  in  a  number  of  troops  from  Bushwick,  for  facilitating  the 
more  timely  support  of  the  1st  division  embarked  in  flat-boats  at  Newtown 
creek." 

t  Sept.  15.  The  1st  division,  consisting  of  the  light  infantry,  British 
reserve,  Hessian  grenadiers,  and  chasseurs,  under  Clinton,  (having  under 
him  Cornwallis,  Leslie,  Vaughan,  and  Donop,)  embarked  at  the  head  of 
Newtown  creek,  and  landed  at  noon  at  Kip's  Bay,  under  the  fire  of  the 
British  ships. 

107.  After  Robertson  left,  Gen.  Clark  and  Heister  were 
quartered  three  weeks  at  Wm.  Lawrence's.  Heister  had 
his  Hessians  with  him,  and  embarked,  October  12,  for  Frog's 
Point,  by  way  of  Hell-Gate,  with  flat-bottomed  boats  and 
other  craft. 

Wm.  Lawrence  was  sick.  The  loyalists  insisted  he  was 
playing  sick,  and  had  him  examined  by  a  Hessian  surgeon, 
who  exclaimed,  referring  to  the  false  charge,  "How  much 
people  lie  in  dis  country  !  " 

Howe  had  his  quarters  at  the  '•'  Big  House,"  Rennie's,  now 
Britanier's,  where  he  wrote  his  account  of  the  battle  of  Long 
Island.  The  side  hill  in  the  rear  was  covered  with  his  tents. 
Vestiges  of  an  encampment  are  yet  visible. 

Lord  Percy  and  Gen.  Grant  were  also  in  camp  at  New- 
town, September  4.  Clinton  was  quartered  at  N.  Moore's, 
now  S.  Townsend's. 


PART  II. 


SEIZURE    OF    WHIGS. 


108.  Newtown.  Jona.  Coe  and  Hezekiah  Field,  two  light- 
horse,  with  regimentals  on,  returned  to  White  Pot,  August 
28.  They  had  been  driving  off  stock.  Early  next  morn- 
ing, when  starting  to  cross  the  Sound,  they  were  seized  by 
British  light-horse  from  Jamaica.  Lieut.  Coe  had  thrown 
his  epaulett  in  the  bushes.  They  were  carried  to  Flatbush 
jail,  where  Coe  died  of  dysentery,  having  suffered  much  for 
want  of  food  and  necessary  attendance.  His  body  was  re- 
fused his  friends  for  burial. 

Richard  Bragaw,  Robert  Moore,  George  Brinckerhoff, 
Abm.  Devine,  and  Ludlum  Haire,  had  been  with  Woodhull, 
driving  off  stock.  After  they  left  him,  they  were  surprised  at 
Hinchman's  tavern,  Jamaica.  A  British  light-horse  rode  up, 
when  Moore  came  out  and  received  a  sabre  cut,  which  nearly 
severed  his  two  fingers.  The  other  four  were  taken  to  the 
prison  ship,  where  they  were  urged  to  enlist ;  but,  by  bribing  a 
friend  to  government,  were  released. 

The  Rev.  Simon  Horton  escaped  to  Connecticut;  D.  Law- 
rence lived  seven  years  at  Milford;  Major  Remsen  w^ent  to 
Rockland  county ;  Col.  Remsen*  remained  in  Jersey  till  Ja- 
nuary, 1777 ;  Richard  Lawrence  was  put  in  the  sugar  house. 
December  12,  1776,  we  find  Col.  Blackwell  and  Major  Jona. 
Lawrence,  members  from  Q,ueens  county,  offering  their  at- 
tendance in  the  Convention,  if  desired,  although  the  county  is  in 
possession  of  the  enemy.  Col.  Blackwell  returned  to  New- 
town, where  he  died,  1780.  (See  Lives  of  the  Lawrences  in 
Thompson,  ii.) 

*  Col.  Remsen  had  served  with  credit  in  the  old  French  Wnr,  and  he 
andDowe  Ditmars,  of  Jamaica,  were  at  the  taking  of  Havana. 


SEIZURE    OF    WHIGS.  103 

109.  Flushing.  About  2  o'clock,  on  a  fine  sunny  day,  on 
the  last  of  August,  a  company  of  light-horse  galloped  into 
the  town  spot  of  Flushing,  and  inquired  at  widow  Blood- 
good's  for  her  sons.  On  being  told  they  had  already  fled, 
in  the  frenzy  of  disappointment,  one  of  them  seized  a  fire- 
brand and  threatened  to  burn  the  house.  He  was  at  length 
prevailed  on  to  desist. 

Thos.  Thome,  a  blacksmith  and  innkeeper  (now  Hover's) 
was  seized,  and  ended  his  days  on  board  the  prison  ship. 

James  Burling,  another  committeeman,  and  John  Vander- 
bilt,  were  also  carried  off,  but  came  out  of  prison  alive. 

Capt  Tom,  (since  Redwood's,)  and  most  of  the  leading 
whigs,  had  left  their  homes,  and  sought  safety  across  the 
Sound.  Many,  however,  returned  and  took  British  protection. 
Tom  was  captain  in  a  new  raised  regiment  at  Kingston,  in 
April,  1777.  Cornelius  Van  Wyck,  member  of  Provincial 
Congress,  was  kept  in  the  New  Gaol  till  October  25,  1776. 

110.  Soon  after  the  defeat  at  Brooklyn,  the  71st  regiment 
of  Highlanders  were  seen  marching  into  Flushing,  bringing 
with  them  fifty  or  sixty  cattle  from  Kings  county.  These 
they  drove  half  a  mile  east  of  the  village  in  front  of  Valk's, 
when  some  run  among  them,  cutting  their  hamstrings,  and  as 
they  dropped  knocking  them  in  the  head  with  their  hatchets  ; 
then  butchered  them  in  the  most  wasteful  manner,  cutting 
out  the  best  parts  and  leaving  the  rest — skin,  horns,  &c.,  on 
the  ground;  others  got  ready  the  cooking  apparatus,  the 
rails  flew,  and  a  fire  was  soon  kindled  under  a  row  of  camp 
kettles  along  the  fence  by  the  roadside.* 

*  Before  the  battle  of  White  Plains  the  1st,  2d  and  6th  brigades  passed 
through  Flushing  to  White  Stone,  and  October  12th  crossed  over  to  the 
Main.  A  part  of  these  forces  was  lying  at  Jamaica,  and  the  column,  it 
is  said,  extended  from  Dr.  Shelton's  corner  to  Flushing  village  ;  others 
came  by  way  of  the  Fly  from  Newtown.  The  forces  were  so  numerous 
as  to  occupy  half  a  day  in  passing  through  Flushing. 

111.  Jamaica.  August  28,  a  detachment  of  the  17th  Light 
Dragoons  entered  the  village  amid  thunder,  lightning,  and 


104  SEIZURE    OF    WHIGS. 

a  violent  rain,  in  pursuit  of  Gen.  Woodhull's  party,  who 
were  driving  off  the  stock. 

They  stopped  at  Mrs.  Cebra's,  and  inquired  for  Col.  Ro- 
binson. The  Colonel  had  gone  off  with  Gen.  Woodhull,but 
Robert  Moore,  of  Newtown,  (who  had  stopped  in  the  house 
to  keep  the  women  company  during  the  violent  thunder 
shower,)  came  to  the  door.  Mistaking  him  for  the  Colonel, 
they  nearly  cut  off  his  hand  with  a  sabre  blow.  On  finding 
their  prey  had  escaped,  they  hastened  on  eastward. 

Gen.  WoodhuU  had  been  left  at  Jamaica  with  only  ninety 
men.  These  he  ordered  to  move  on  eastward,  and  expecting 
every  moment  an  order  from  Congress  at  Harlem,  he  lin- 
gered at  Jamaica  till  the  latest  moment — too  late,  alas  !  He 
then  slowly  moved  on  and  halted  at  Carpenter's  inn,  two 
miles  east  of  Jamaica.  It  was  in  the  afternoon,  and  he  is 
supposed  to  have  sought  a  shelter  there  from  the  rain.  He 
had  already  sent  off  his  only  attendant.  Col.  Robinson,  who 
went  on  to  Huntington,  crossed  to  Old  Milford,  and  continued 
in  Connecticut  during  the  war. 

As  the  General  came  out  of  the  house,  took  his  horse 
from  under  the  shed,  and  laid  his  hands  on  the  reins,  the 
light-horse  (guided,  it  is  said,  by  one  Smith,  John  Livinsgton's 
ostler)  galloped  up,  their  swords  gleaming  in  the  lightning's 
red  glare.  The  first  salutation  was,  "  Surrender,  you  d — d 
rebel."  The  General  delivered  his  sword.  "  Say  God  save 
the  King,"  they  cried.  His  only  reply  was,  "God  save  all 
honest  men."  "  God  save  the  King,"  they  again  slioutcd, 
and  showered  their  sabre  blows  on  his  devoted  head,  and 
arm  as  it  was  uplifted  to  ward  off  the  strokes.* 

After  they  had  sufficiently  hacked  their  defenceless  but 
undaunted  prisoner,  he  was  mounted,  the  blood  streaming 
from  his  wounds,  boliind  one  of  the  troopers,  who  instantly 
hurried  back  to  Jamaica,  for  fear  of  being  intercepted. 
That  night  he  was  placed  in  Hinchman's  tavern,  (still  stand- 
ing,) where  Dr.  Ogdcn  and  Minema,  his  pupil,  were  refused 


SEIZURE    OF    WHIGS.  105 

permission  to  dress  his  wounds.     A   British  surgeon  was 
called  in. 

While  in  Hinchman's  tavern,  and  suffering  with  pain,  he 
sent  for  a  Miss  Cebra,  and  said  to  her,  "Madam,  1  understand 
you  are  Mrs.  Robinson's  sister."  Then  drawing  a  silver 
spoon  from  his  pocket,  he  said,  "  Take  this,  madam,  and  hand 
it  back  to  Mrs.  Robinson.  She  gave  it  to  me  some  time  ago 
when  I  was  about  to  take  the  field,  '  for,'  she  said,  '  she  sup- 
posed I  might  not  always  have  conveniences  for  eating  when 
in  camp.'  " 

His  shirt  sleeve,  cut  with  seven  gashes,  and  also  his  hat 
slashed  in  many  places,  were  preserved  by  Miss  Cebra,  and 
remained  in  the  General's  family  some  years,  till  his  man- 
sion was  burnt.    • 

The  next  day  he  was  taken  westward  and  put  on  board 
an  old  vessel  at  New  Utrecht,  used  for  transporting  live 
stock,  where  he  had  none  of  the  conveniences  his  wretched 
condition  required.  He  was  next  removed  to  the  house  of 
Wilhelmus  Van  Brunt,  (still  standing  near  the  church  at 
New  Utrecht,)  which  was  used  as  a  hospital. 

His  arm  mortified,  and  it  was  decided  to  take  it  off.  He 
thereupon  sent  express  to  his  wife  that  he  had  no  hopes  of 
life,  and  requested  her  to  gather  up  what  provisions  she 
could,  (for  he  had  a  large  farm,)  and  hasten  to  his  bedside. 
She  accordingly  loaded  a  wagon  with  bread,  crackers,  hams, 
butter,  and  the  like,  and  barely  reached  her  husband  in  time 
to  see  him  alive.  With  his  dying  breath  he  requested  her 
to  distribute  the  provisions  she  had  brought  among  the  suf- 
fering, starving  American  prisoners.  His  body  was  em- 
balmed  by  the  British  surgeons,  and  taken  by  his  v/ife  to 
Mastic,  and  interred  on  his  farm  about  September  23. f 

*  Wm.Wame,  who  left  Long  Island,  September  5,  reports  to  Congress 
that  a  light-horse  told  him  he  had  taken  Gen.  Woodhull  in  a  barn  in 
the  dark,  and  before  he  would  answer,  when  spoken  to,  the  General  had 
received  a  cut  on  the  head  and  both  arms. 


106  SEIZURE    OF   WHIGS. 

The  Hartford  Courant,  September  9,  '76,  says:  "  Woodhull  refused 
to  give  up  his  sidearms,  and  was  wounded  on  his  head,  and  had  a  bayonet 
thrust  through  his  arm." 

t  The  following  inscription  is  taken  from  his  tombstone. 
In  Memory  of 
Gen'l  NATHANIEL  WOODHULL, 
Who,  wounded  and  a  prisoner.  Died  on  the  20th  of  September,  1776, 
In  the  54th  year  of  his  age. 
Regretted  by  all  who  knew  how  to  value  his  many  private 
virtues,  and  that  pure  zeal  for  the  rights  of 
his  country,  to  which  he  per- 
ished a  victim. 

112.  As  there  have  been  many  different  accounts  of  Gen. 
Woodhull's  capture,  we  will  here  insert  what  may  be  termed 
his  death-bed  confession  to  a  fellow  prisoner. 

*  *  *  Robert  Troup  says,  "  that  while  he  was  confined  on  board 
a  transport,  Brigadier  General  Woodhull  was  also  brought  on  board  in  a 
shocking  mangled  condition  ;  that  he  asked  the  General  the  particulars 
of  his  capture,  and  was  told  that  he  had  been  taken  by  a  party  of  light- 
horse  under  command  of  Capt.  Oliver  Delancey  ;  that  he  was  asked  by 
said  Captain  if  he  would  surrender  ;  that  he  answered  in  the  affirmative, 
provided  he  would  treat  him  like  a  gentleman,  which  Capt.  Delancey  as- 
sured him  he  would  ;  whereupon  the  General  delivered  his  sword,  and 
that  immediately  after  the  said  Oliver  Delancey,  Jr.,  struck  him  ;  and 
others  of  his  party,  imitating  his  example,  did  cruelly  cut  and  hack  him 
in  the  manner  he  then  was  ;  that  although  he  was  in  such  a  mangled 
and  horrid  situation,  he  had  nevertheless  been  obliged  to  sleep  on  the  filthy 
deck  or  bare  floor  of  said  transport,  had  not  a  lieutenant  lent  him  a  mat- 
tress ;  that  Gen.  Woodhull  was  afterwards  carried  to  the  hospital  in  the 
church  of  New  Utrecht,  where  he  perished,  as  the  deponent  was  on  good 
authority  informed,  through  want  of  care  and  other  necessaries." 
Sworn,  January  17,  1777,  before  Gov.  Morris. 

Troup  was  Lieutenant  in  Lieut.  Col.  Lasher's  battalion  of  New- York 
militia,  and  was  taken  prisoner  at  3  o'clock  A.  M.,  August  27. 

[A  ballad  on  the  death  of  Woodhull,  with  introductory  re- 
marks, may  be  found  in  the  London  Mirror  for  1823,  but  is  here 
omitted  for  its  want  of  historic  truth.] — Ed. 


SEIZURE    OF    WHIGS.  107 

113.  The  day  after  WoodhuU's  capture,  Elias  Baylis, 
chairman  of  the  Jamaica  committee,  was  walking  over  to 
Nathaniel  Smith's,  at  the  one  mile  Mill,  to  hearthe  news,  when 
he  was  arrested  by  a  neighbor,  who  wished  to  do  something  to 
ingratiate  himself  with  the  British. 

When  the  venerable  man,  blind  as  he  was,  was  brought 
before  the  British  officer  at  Jamaica,  he  exclaimed,  in  sur- 
prise, "  Why  do  you  bring  this  man  here?  He's  blind  :  he 
can  do  no  harm."  The  unfeeling  wretch  who  had  informed 
against  him,  replied  :  "  He's  blind,  but  he  can  talk." 
Baylis  did  not  attempt  to  conciliate  the  officer,  but  unfor- 
tunately dropped  a  few  words  in  vindication  of  the  American 
cause.  This  was  enough.  He  was  shut  up  in  the  Presby- 
terian church  that  night,  and  next  day  carried  to  the  prison 
at  New  Utrecht.*  He  was  subsequently  removed  to  the 
Provost  in  New- York. 

Elias  Baylis  was  an  elder  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and 
stood  high  in  the  community  for  uprightness  and  ability.  He 
had  a  sweet  voice,  and  could  sing  whole  psalms  and  hymns 
from  memory:  it  will  not  be  surprising  then  to  find  him  beguil- 
ing his  dreary  imprisonment  in  singing,  among  others,  the  142d 
Psalm : 

Lord,  I  am  brought  exceeding  low, 

Now  let  thine  ear  attend, 
And  make  my  foes,  who  vex  me,  know 

I've  an  Almighty  Friend. 

From  my  sad  prison  set  me  free, 

Then  shall  I  praise  thy  name  ; 
And  holy  men  shall  join  with  me 

Thy  kindness  to  proclaim. 

The  aged  man  was  visited  in  prison  by  liis  wife  and 
daughter.  After  a  confinement  of  about  two  months,  at  the 
intercession  of  his  friends,  he  was  released,  barely  in  time  to 
breathe  his  last  without  a  prison's  walls.  He  died  in  crossing 
the  ferry  with  his  daughter,  and  his  mortal  remains  now  re- 
pose without  a  stone  to  mark  the  spot  or  commemorate  his 
worth. 

The  heartless  wretch  who  arrested  him,  fled  on  the  return 
of  peace  to  Nova  Scotia,  dreading  the  vengeance  of  his  fellow- 


108  SEIZURE    OF    WHIGS. 

citizens ;  but  after  a  two  years'  exile,  he  ventured  to  return, 
but  looked  so  poor  and  forlorn  that  he  was  never  molested. 

*  Daniel  Duryee,  (afterwards  Assemblyman,)  Wm.  Furman,  Wm. 
Creed,  and  two  others,  were  put  in  one  pew  in  New  Utrecht  church. 
Bayhs  wanted  them  to  get  the  Bible  out  of  the  pulpit  and  read  to  him. 
They  feared  to  do  it,  but  led  the  blind  man  to  the  pulpit  steps.  As  he 
returned  with  it  a  British  guard  met  him,  beat  him  violendy,  and  took 
away  the  book.  They  were  three  weeks  at  New  Utrecht,  and  then 
marched  down  to  the  prison  ship. 

114.  As  fast  as  the  whigs  were  seized,  they  were  put  in  the 
Presbyterian  church  till  a  sufficient  number  was  collected  to 
send  under  guard  to  the  prison  ship.  It  is  said,  that  when 
these  unfortunate  prisoners,  embracing,  as  they  did,  some  of 
our  worthiest  and  most  aged  citizens,  were  drawn  up  and 
ready  to  march,  a  crowd  of  spectators  assembled  to  witness 
their  departure,  attracted,  some  by  the  novelty  of  the  sight, 
some  by  sympathy,  others  gazing  with  a  fiendish  smile  on 
the  whigs  in  this  their  hour  of  retribution.  One  aged  whig, 
named  Smith,  appealed  to  a  loyalist  to  intercede  for  him. 
The  cold  reply  Avas,  "Ah,  John,  you've  been  a  great  rebel." 
Directly  the  old  man's  searching  eye  detected  a  more  be- 
nevolent look  in  the  face  of  another  loyalist :  "  McEvers, 
this  is  hard  for  an  old  man  like  me  to  go  to  prison  ;  can't  you 
do  something  for  me  ?"  "  What  have  you  been  doing,  John  ?" 
''Why,  I've  had  opinions  of  my  own."  "Well,  I'll  see 
what  I  can  do  for  you."  McEvers  then  went  to  the  officer, 
and  made  such  a  representation  that  Smith  was  immediately 
released.* — "  Teach  me  to  feel  another's  woe." 

*  John  Thurston  was  put  in  prison  and  had  iiis  health  ruined.  Abr. 
Ditmars,  Robert  Hinchman,  David  Lamberson,  (and  who  can  tell  how 
many  more  ?)  were  carried  off  to  prison. 

Rev.  Abm.  Keteltas  crossed  to  the  Main  ;  J.  J.  Skidmore  went  up  the 
North  River,  and  returned  at  the  peace,  liis  wife  dying  in  the  mean  time. 
Increase  Carpenter  was  commissary  to  the  army. 

115.  North  Hempstead.    It  is  not  known  when  the  British 
first  came  here  ;  but  probably  immediately  after  Washington 


SEIZURE    OF    WHIGS.  109 

left   the   Island,  their   light-horse    hunted  out   the  leading 
Whigs  and  impressed  wagons.* 

*  A.  Onderdonk,  Peter  Dodge,  (and  who  can  tell  how  many  more  ?) 
were  impressed  with  teams  and  attended  the  army  at  Newtown,  White 
Plains  and  Fort  Washington.  They  returned  home  sick  with  camp  fever, 
and  were  buried  in  December.  Hendrick  Onderdonk's  wagon,  driven 
by  Cha's  Hubbs,  was  taken  to  the  Jerseys  and  recovered  after  8  months' 
absence.  It  had  served  two  six  pounders  at  White  Plains.  Great  num- 
bers of  impressed  teams  were  lost  and  never  paid  for. 

116.  Eight  light-horse  surrounded  the  house  of  Col.  Sands, 
but  finding  him  not  at  home,  went  off  quietly.  Some  pow- 
der and  ball  stored  there  had  been  sent  off  to  the  Main  in 
the  morning,  as  I.  R.  and  W.  H.,  with  fixed  bayonets, 
marched  in  the  house  to  seize  it  in  the  afternoon.  Colonel 
Sands  had  retreated  with  the  army,  and  was  now  at  New 
Rochelle.*  He  sent  for  his  wife,  who  was  to  return  the 
same  afternoon,  but  was  absent  six  weeks,  no  one  daring  to 
convey  her  back.  R.  M.  at  last  landed  her  at  the  beach. 
She  disguised  herself  at  E.  Hegeman's,  and  so  reached  home 
undetected.  The  Col.  returned  home  at  the  instance  of  his 
wife  to  save  his  property  from  destruction,  and  was  arrested 
and  carried  to  Oyster  Bay  [to  Gen.  Delancey  ?]  He  obtained 
a  pardon  from  Howe  Dec.  23,  '76.  Col.  S.  suffered  much 
in  common  with  the  Whigs  during  the  war,  had  his  wood 
cut  off,  and  his  hay  and  cattle  taken. 

B.  Sands,  Chairman  of  the  Committee,  and  now  member 
of  Congress,  not  owning  any  land  to  be  confiscated,  retired 
to  Nine  Partners,  where  he  staid  during  the  war. 

*  He  was  at  Fishkill,  Nov.  8,  as  appears  by  the  following  resolution 
of  the  Congress : 

JVov.  8.  Resolved,  That  this  committee  will  pay  the  wages  and  value 
of  rations  due  such  officers  and  men  of  Col.  Smith's  regiment  as  are  not 
in  the  British  lines;  and  that  Col.  Sands  procure  Muster  Rolls  of  the 
men."  (See  10.3.) 

117.  On  Saturday,  Sept.  21,  '76,  the  day  after  the  great  fire 
in  New-York,  a  detachment  of  Col.  Birch's  17th  light  dragoons 


110  SEIZURE    OF    WHIGS. 

visited  Great  Neck,  Cow  Neck,  &c.  In  the  afternoon  they 
reached  the  house  of  Adrian  Onderdonk,  which  they  instantly 
surrounded,  when  an  officer  went  in  and  searched  every 
part,  up  and  down  stairs,  thrusting  his  sword  into  every  se- 
cret place.  The  object  of  their  pursuit  happened  to  be  at 
home,  and  on  being  arrested,  he  asked  the  reason  of  it.  The 
reply  was,  •'  Your  neighbors  complain  of  you."  He  then 
mounted  his  horse  and  rode  off  with  the  troopers ;  perhaps 
in  quest  of  other  Whigs  on  Cow  Neck.  He  was  taken 
as  far  as  Flushing,  and  shut  up  in  the  Friends'  meet- 
ing house  that  night.  The  next  day  he  was  taken  to  New- 
York. 

On  his  arrival  at  the  city,  he,  with  other  prisoners,  was 
paraded  through  the  streets  to  the  Provost,  with  a  gang  of 
loose  women  marching  before  them,  to  add  insult  to  suffer- 
ing.* 

After  a  while  the  rigor  of  the  prison  rules  was  somewhat 
abated.  He  was  allowed  to  write  home  (which  he  did  in 
Dutch)  for  provisions,  such  as  smoked  beef,  butter,  &c.  Un- 
fortunately they  were  not  sent,  as  the  neighbors  amused  his 
wife  with  the  vain  hope  that  her  husband  would  be  home  in 
a  short  time,  in  a  day  or  so.  His  friends  procured  a  woman 
to  do  his  washing,  prepare  food  and  convey  it  to  him,  &;c.| 

The  horrors  of  imprisonment  were  aggravated  by  the 
uncalled  for  brutality  of  Capt.  Cunningham,  keeper  of  the 
Provost,  who  seems  to  have  hung  great  numbers  on  his  own 
responsibility  without  trial,  as  appears  by  his  dying  confes* 
sion  when  hung  in  London,  August  10,  1791,  for  forgery. J 

One  day  as  he  was  walking  through  the  rooms,  followed 
by  his  constant  attendant,  a  negro,§  with  coils  of  rope  on  his 
neck,  he  asked  A.  O.  what  he  was  imprisoned  for  ?  "  I've 
been  a  committee  man."  "  Well,"  (with  an  oath  and  a  deal 
of  abuse)  "you  shall  be  hung  to-morrow." 

After  he  had  been  confined  nearly  four  weeks,  his  mind 
daily  harassed  with  the  dreadful  forebodings  of  death,  with- 


SEIZURE    OF    WHIGS.  Ill 

out  a  hearing,  whenever  it  might  suit  the  whim  of  his  cruel 
jailer,   Elbert    Hegeman,    afterwards  Judge,  went  to  Col. 

and  asked  him  "  if  he  had  any  new  complaint  against 

A.  O.  ;  for  if  he  had  not,  he  should  avail  himself  of  Howe's 
proclamation  and  get  him  released,  as  his  family  were  suf- 
fering severely  from  sickness,  two  of  his  children  having  died 
in  one  day."  The  Col.  replied :  "  For  his  suffering  family  he 
felt  sorry  ;  but  as  for  the  d — d  rebel,  he  did  not  care  what  be- 
came of  him."  He  added,  however,  that  he  "  had  no  fresh 
complaint."  E.  Hegeman,  thereupon,  went  to  New- York, 
called  on  Lambert  Moore,  (nephew  of  the  prisoner  and 
Comptroller  of  the  Customs)  to  learn  how  to  proceed.  They 
first  went  tc  Sheriff  Roberts,  a  friend  of  Hend'k  O.,  who 
gave  them  a  line  to  Gen.  Robertson  ;  who  thereupon  issued 
an  order  for  the  liberation  of  the  prisoner.  They  then  re- 
paired to  the  Provost  (now  the  Hall  of  Records).  As  they 
approached,  the  guards  made  way,  and  they  entered  the  prison 
door.  The  prisoner  at  first  did  not  recognize  his  deliverers. 
They  soon  made  themselves  known,  and  informed  him  that 
he  might  now  take  the  benefit  of  the  Proclamation  and  be 
restored  to  his  family.  Such  tidings  were  too  strange.  He 
could  not  realize  it.  He  was  confused  and  bewildered.  As 
his  senses  became  collected,  they  conversed  with  him  on  his 
family  affairs.  He  was  brought  home  in  a  wagon  by  E. 
Hegeman  in  the  night,  pale,  thin  and  feeble  from  bodily  suf- 
ferings and  mental  anxiety. 

His  shattered  constitution  never  recovered  its  former 
strength.  He  told  Col. ,  the  first  time  he  saw  him  af- 
ter his  release,  that  his  sufferings  had  deprived  him  of  the 
hearing  of  one  ear.  "  Then,  d — n  you.  look  out  for  the  other, 
also,"  was  the  brutal  reply. 

E.  Hegeman  also  recovered  from  Michael  Burns,  of  Searing 
Town,  (who  acted  as  informer  and  guide  to  the  light-horse,) 
the  young  sorrel  that  A.  O.  rode  to  Brooklyn.  He  paid  him  a 
few  dollars  for  his  alledged  expenses.  "  Mind,"  says  Burns,  "  I 
do  not  sell  the  creature  to  you." 


112  SEIZURE    OF    WHIGS. 

A.  O.  had  been  Deputy  Chairmanll  of  the  Committee  for 
Cow  Neck,  Great  Neck,  &c.,  and  it  became  his  duty  to  grant 
passes  to  those  wishing  to  leave  the  county,  and  preside  at 
meetings  where  resolutions,  offensive  to  the  Loyalists,  were  of- 
ten passed  ;  hence,  though  a  mild  and  moderate  man,T[  he  na- 
turally from  his  position  incurred  their  resentment.  After  the 
defeat  at  Brooklyn,  he  left  his  home  and  was  concealed  for  two 
or  three  weeks  at  Jacob  Vanderbelt's,  Huntington.  He  then 
came  in  on  the  faith  of  the  British  Proclamation,  and  gave  up 
to  Sir  Wm.  Erskine,  on  Long  Island ;  in  violation  of  which 
he  was  cast  into  prison. 

One  Sunday  before  his  imprisonment,  as  he  was  returning 
from  Flower  Hill,  L  R.,  with  Mike  Burns  and  one  Osborn,  met 
him,  used  abusive  language,  and  finally  seized  the  reins  of  his 
bridle,  and  for  lack  of  rope,  said  he  had  "  a  great  mind  to  peel 
bark  and  hang  him." 

While  A.  O.  was  yet  in  Provost,  Capt.  Stephen  Thorne 
rode  up  to  his  house,  and  as  he  sat  on  his  horse,  said,  in  the 
course  of  conversation  with  A.  O.'s  wife,  that "  the  Declaration 
of  Independence  was  a  wrong  thing."  She  replied,  (perhaps 
to  conciliate  his  good  will,)  that  "  her  husband  did  not  approve 
of  it  either,  and  thought  it  was  going  too  far;  but  as  it  was  the 
will  of  the  majority,  he  fell  in  with  it."** 

During  the  armed  occupation  of  (iueens  county,  the  Loyal- 
ists had  frequent  opportunities  of  insulting  the  Whigs.  Im- 
mense quantities  of  cord-wood  were  carted  to  A.  O.'s  landing, 
(now  C.  Pearsall's.)  The  gates  were  often  left  open,  and  if 
his  son,  tired  of  driving  out  stray  cattle,  should  request  a  carter  to 
shut  the  gate,  "Your  father  is  not  Chairman  of  the  Committee 
now."  would  be  the  ready  taunt.  And  if  tlie  father  should  venture 
a  like  request,  he  would  be  greeted  with  "  You  d — d  Dutcli  rebel, 
I'll  go  on  board  the  man  of  war  (meaning  tlie  guard  ship  in 
Cow  Bay,)  and  complain  of  you  for  hindering  me  from  carting 
the  King's  wood." 

*  Col.  Graydon  says  a  like  insult  was  oflered  the  American  prison- 
ers taken  at  Fort  Washington. 

t  Women  often  brought  food  for  the  prisoners  in  little  haskets,  which 
after  examination,  were  handed  in.     Now  and  then,  the  guard  might  in- 


SEIZURE    OF    WHIGS.  113 

tercept  what  was  sent,  or  Cunningham  (if  the  humor  took  him)  as  he 
passed  through  the  hall,  might  kick  over  vessels  of  soup  placed  there  by 
the  charitable  for  the  poor  and  friendless  prisoners. 

t"  I  was  appointed  provost  marshal  to  the  Royal  army,  which  placed 
me  in  a  situation  to  wreak  my  vengeance  on  the  Americans.  I  shudder 
to  think  of  the  murders  I  have  been  accessory  to,  both  with  and  without 
orders  from  government,  especially  while  in  New- York,  during  which 
time  there  were  more  than  2000  prisoners  starved  in  the  different 
churches,  by  stopping  their  rations,  which  I  sold.  There  were  also  275 
American  prisoners  and  obnoxious  persons  executed  ;  out  of  all  which 
number  there  were  only  about  one  dozen  public  executions,  which  chiefly 
consisted  of  British  and  Hessian  deserters.  The  mode  for  private  execu- 
tions was  thus  conducted  :  A  guard  was  despatched  from  the  Provost 
about  half-past  twelve  at  night,  to  the  Barrack  street,  (now  Chambers,) 
and  the  neighborhood  of  the  upper  barracks,  to  order  the  people  to  shut 
their  window-shutters  and  put  out  their  lights,  forbidding  them  at  the 
same  time  to  presume  to  look  out  of  their  windows  and  doors,  on  pain 
of  death  ;  after  which  the  unfortunate  prisoners  were  conducted  gagged, 
just  behind  the  upper  barracks,  and  hung  without  ceremony,  and  there 
buried  by  the  black  pioneer  of  the  Provost." — Dying  Confession. 

§  One  Guinea  Reward. — Ran  away,  a  black  man,  named  Richmond, 
being  the  common  hangman,  formerly  the  property  of  the  rebel  Col.  Pat- 
terson, of  Pennsylvania.     Aug.  4, 1781. 

WM.  CUNNINGHAM. 

II  Gov.  Tryon  said,  "  I  should,  were  I  in  more  authority,  burn  every 
committee-man's  house  within  my  reach,  as  I  deem  those  agents  the 
wicked  instruments  of  the  continued  calamities  of  this  country;  and  in 
order  sooner  to  purge  the  country  of  them,  I  am  willing  to  give  25  silver 
dollars  for  every  actins  committee-man,  who  shall  be  delivered  up  to  the 
King's  troops."     Nov.  23, 1777, 

IT  Benj.  Sands,  Chairman  of  the  Committee,  was  for  going  ahead.  He 
was  especially  severe  on  the  New-Yorkers  who  moved  into  the  district. 
(See  43.)  When  A.  O.  recommended  gentler  measures,  he  replied, "  Then 
you  think  we  ought  to  do  nothing,  eh  ?" 

**"  The  Declaration  of  Independence,"  says  Graydon,  "was  not  re- 
ceived with  the  enthusiasm  since  supposed.  Many  who  had  supported 
the  Whig  cause  fell  back." 

118.  Major  Thorne,  of  Great  Neck,  was  taken  by  Col. 
Birch,  Sept.  27,  1776,  at  his  house,  and  carried  to  Flushing 


114  SEIZURE    OF    WHIGS. 

meeting  house  ;  on  the  28th,  carried  to  Newtown  meeting 
house  ;  and  on  the  29th  to  New-York,  and  put  in  the  new  City 
Hall,  (site  of  the  Custom  House,)  and  kept  there  till  Nov.  12, 
when,  at  the  repeated  solicitations  of  his  wife.  Col.  Ludlow 
became  surety  for  his  conduct,  and  he  was  set  free. 

Col.  Birch  also  took  from  Major  Thorne  7  cows,  worth  £49, 
2  three  year  old  steers,  worth  £14,  1  heifer  worth  £5,  15  sheep 
worth  £9  ;  total,  £77. 

Major  Thorne  had  marched  to  Brooklyn  w^ith  the  militia, 
and  stood  guard  all  night  at  Fort  Oblong,  when  he  was  attacked 
with  the  dysentery^  He  returned  home  on  furlough  Aug.  25. 
After  the  defeat  at  Brooklyn  he  fled  the  county,  crossed  the 
Somid  at  Huntington,  and  wenttoFishkill,  where  the  Congress 
was  in  session.  Dr.  Latham  attended  him  and  was  with  hitn 
at  Fishkill,  Sept.  7.  Soon  after  this  the  Major  ventured  to  re- 
turn home,  and  was  arrested  in  violation  of  the  Proclamation. 

119.  The  Oyster  Bay  committee  were  in  session  at  Dan! 
Cock's,  Matinecock,  when  news  was  brought  of  our  defeat 
at  Brooklyn.  They  at  once  broke  up  and  hastened  home, 
there  to  await  their  fate,  except  Joost  Monfort  and  Isaac  Bo- 
gart,  who  took  leave  of  their  families,  mounted  horses  and 
rode  off"  to  Huntington  Ferry,  where  they  crossed  the  same 
night  in  company  with  Maj.  Thorne  and  others,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  Fishkill.  Joost  Monfort,  after  a  few  months 
absence,  ventured  home  in  the  night,  and  before  day  hurried 
off*  to  Gen.  Robertson,  at  New- York,  to  give  up  before  his 
loyal  neighbors  should  molest  him.  They  got  wind  of  it, 
however,  and  Esq.  A.  V W hastened  to  New- 
York  to  prevent  his  getting  a  pardon.  He  was  so  abusive 
when  he  found  lie  could  not  succeed,  that  Robertson  ordered 
him  out  of  his  office  and  gave  Monfort  a  certificate. 

120.  The  Kings  county  light-horse  were  now  driving 
cattle  from  Hog  Island,  but  on  hearing  of  the  defeat  at 
Brooklyn,  they  left  the  cattle  at  Matinecock  and  crossed  the 
sound  at  Huntington,  Aug.  29,  leaving  their  horses  to  come 
by  the  next  boat.     But  the  Huntington  committee  detained 


SEIZURE    OF    WHIGS.  115 

the  horses  for  the  defence  of  the  island,  so  that  the  riders 
went  without  them  to  Fishkill,  where  the  Convention  sat. 

121.  A  British  sergeant  and  three  light-horse  came  to 
Cedar  Swamp  in  September,  and  continued  there  some  time, 
hunting  Whigs  and  impressing  wagons.* 

*  Sept.  7,  1776.  One  Harrison,  from  Long  Island,  reports  to  Con- 
gress that  "  the  ministerial  troops  have  been  to  Oyster  Bay  and  Hemp- 
stead.    That  the  disaffected  have  joined  the  enemy  and  proceeded  as  far 

as  Setauket ;  that  Wm.  Smith,  of ,  administers  oaths  of  allegiance, 

and  Tho's  Smith,  of  Hog  Island,  receives  submissions." 

122.  A  week  after  the  Kings  county  horse  had  driven  the 
cattle  off  Hog  Island  to  Matinecock,  a  detachment  of  the 
17th  light  dragoons  appeared  at  Norwich  and  apprehended 
George  Townsend,  chairman  of  the  Queens  county  commit- 
tee, and  John  Kirk,  also  a  committee-man.  Townsend  was 
not  at  home  the  first  time  his  house  was  visited,  but  had  fled 
to  Huntington,  whence  he  unfortunately  returned.  Kirk 
was  in  his  corn-field  stouting  top-stalks.  When  warned  of 
the  approach  of  the  enemy  and  advised  to  flee,  he  refused, 
saying  he  was  ready  for  his  fate  now,  for  should  he  escape 
this  time,  he  could  have  no  peace  till  they  seized  him.  He 
also  had  faint  hopes  from  the  proclamation  of  Howe,  promis- 
ing  pardon  to  all  who  would  quietly  remain  at  home.  They 
conducted  the  two  committee-men  on  hDrseback  to  the 
house  of  Samuel  Townsend,  member  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress. They  found  him  seated  on  his  stoop,  and  informed 
him  of  their  business.  A  crowd  soon  gathered  around, 
attracted  by  the  novel  sight  of  British  light-horse  and  sym- 
pathy for  their  fellow-citizens.  The  officers  were  most  hos- 
pitably entertained,  and  such  appliances  used  that  on  one 
Buchanan's  promising  he  should  be  forthcoming  at  New- 
York  whenever  summoned,  he  was  allowed  to  go  at  large. 

Far  different  was  the  fate  of  the  other  two.  George 
Townsend  having  been  chairman  of  the  committee,  and 
withal  a  bold,  blunt,  talented  man,  had  exasperated  his  loyal 


116  SEIZURE    OF    WHIGS. 

neighbors  past  endurance,  and  could  find  no  intercessor  in 
his  hour  of  peril.  And  when  an  old  acquaintance,  John 
Townsend,  at  the  mill,  was  importuned  to  say  a  kind  word 
for  Kirk,  he  coolly  replied,  "  He  has  got  into  this  scrape  him- 
self; let  him  help  himself  out  as  best  he  can." 

"  Blest  is  the  man  whose  softening  heart 

Feels  all  another's  pain  ; 
To  whom  the  supplicating  eye 

Was  never  raised  in  vain." 

This  same  Townsend  was  forced  to  leave  his  property  at 
the  peace,  and  go  in  exile  to  England,  where  he  died. 

The  troopers,  on  their  return  to  Norwich,  were  met  by 
Kirk's  wife  and  daughter,  (my  informant,)  who  had  gath- 
ered up  some  clothing  and  other  articles,  to  render  the  hard- 
ships of  prison  more  tolerable.  To  soothe  their  anguish,  the 
women  were  told  the  prisoners  would  soon  be  released.  That 
night  they  were  shut  up  in  the  meeting  house  at  Flushing, 
and  next  day  taken  to  the  Provost,  where  they  were  thrown 
among  the  offscouring  of  the  earth.  After  repeated  remon- 
strances, they  were  separated  from  this  vile  herd.  Penelope 
Hull,  a  Quakeress,  offered  to  carry  them  food  twice  a  day. 
Their  washing  was  done  at  home.  After  nine  weeks'  im- 
prisonment, two  English  Quakers,  Jacob  Watson  and  Robt. 
Murray,  procured  their  release,  and  became  security  for 
their  good  behavior.  That  evening,  as  the  family  of  Kirk 
was  seated  quietly  by  the  fireside,  they  heard  a  knocking  at 
the  door.  "  There's  the  soldiers  again,"  exclaimed  the 
affrighted  mother.  She  was  mistaken.  It  was  George 
Townsend's  voice.  "  Why  don't  you  come  and  help  your 
father  out  of  the  chaise  1"  He  was  sick  of  the  small  pox, 
caught  in  the  Provost  ;  and  his  return  home,  instead  of 
diffusing  joy  and  peace,  spread  consternation  and  death  f 
The  husband,  indeed,  recovered,  but  the  wife  and  her  infant 
daughter  went  down  to  the  grave. 


PART  III. 

PETITION  AND  REPRESENTATION  OF  QUEENS   COUNTY. 

123.  The  King  being  now  in  possession  of  Queens  county^ 
and  his  soldiers  scattered  over  it,  the  leading  Whigs  having 
been  thrown  in  prison,  and  the  property  of  those  who  fled 
seized  by  the  enemy,  the  remainder  were  constrained  to  join 
the  Loyalists  in  petitioning  the  King's  Commissioners  that 
Queen's  county  might  be  restored  to  Royal  favor. 

To  the  Right  Honorable  RICHARD,  LORD  VISCOUNT 
HOWE,  of  the  Kingdom  of  Ireland,  and  to  his  Excellency, 
the  Hon.  WM.  HOWE,  Esquire,  General  of  His  Majes- 
ty^s  forces  in  America,  the  King^s  Commissioners  for  re- 
storing peace  to  his  Majesty's  Colonies  in  North  America  : 

The  humble  Representation  and  Petition  of  the  Freeholders 
and  Inhabitants  of  Queens  County,  on  the  Island  of  Nas- 
sau, in  the  Province  of  New-York  : 

Your  Excellencies  having,  by  your  Declaration  of  July  last, 
opened  to  us  the  pleasing  prospect  of  returning  peace  and  se- 
curity, long  banished  by  the  many  calamities  surrounding  us, 
we  entertained  the  most  sanguine  expectations  that  the  Colo- 
nies would  at  length  have  submitted  to  their  duty  and  ac- 
knowledged rzi  constitutional  authority  they  had  so  wantonly 
opposed. 

When  we  compared  the  dismal  situation  of  the  country  suf- 
fering under  all  the  evils  attending  the  most  convulsive  state, 
with  the  mild  and  happy  government  it  had  before  experienced, 
we  saw  no  ground  for  hesitation  ;  from  happiness  we  had  fallen 
into  misery ;  from  freedom  to  oppression  !  We  severely  felt 
the  change  and  lamented  our  condition ;  unfortunately  for  us, 

6* 


118 


PETITION    AND    REPRESENTATION. 


these  hopes  were  blasted  by  the  infatuated  conduct  of  the  Con- 
gress :  Your  Excellencies  nevertheless  having  been  pleased  by 
a  subsequent  Declaration,  again  to  hold  up  the  most  benevo- 
lent offers,  and  to  repeat  his  Majesty's  gracious  intentions  to- 
wards the  obedient  : 

Permit  us,  his  Majesty's  loyal  and  well-affected  subjects, 
the  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  dueens  county,  humbly  to 
represent  to  your  Excellencies,  that  we  bear  true  allegiance  to 
His  Majesty,  GEORGE  the  Third,  and  are  sincerely  attached 
to  his  sacred  person,  crown  and  dignity ;  that  we  consider  the 
union  of  these  colonies  with  the  parent  state  essential  to  their  well 
being ;  and  our  earnest  desire  is  that  the  constitutional  author- 
ity of  Great  Britain  over  them,  may  be  preserved  to  the  latest 
ages. 

And  we  humbly  pray,  that  your  Excellencies  would  be 
pleased  to  declare  this  county  at  the  peace  of  His  Majesty, 
and  thereby  enable  us  to  receive  the  benefits  flowing  from  his 
most  gracious  protection. 

dueens  county,  21st  October,  1776. 


John  Morrell, 
Thomas  Hallet, 
Charles  Willet, 
Geo.  Nostrand, 
Enoch  Martin, 
Jona.  Rowland, 
John  Embree, 
Benj.  Arisson, 
Ab'm  Lawrence, 
Hallet  Wright, 
Jos.  Wright, 
Philip  Field, 
John  Fowler, 
Thomas  Blockley, 
John  Marston, 
Oliver  Thorne, 
Wm.  Lowere, 
Wm.  Arisson, 
Gilbert  Field, 
Joseph  Haviland,  Jr. 
Wm.  Reid, 


Elbert  Hoogland, 
David  Roe,  Constable, 
Jos.  Griffen, 
John  Smith, 
Sam'l  Smith, 
Sam'l  Fish, 
Francis  Marston, 
Thos.  Bennen, 
Benj.  Farrington, 
Tho's  Woodward, 
Leonard  Lawrence, 
Matthew  Redett, 
Baltus  Van  Kleeck, 
Theophilus  Wright, 
Gilbert  Colden  Willet, 
Isaac  Underbill, 
Edward  Willet, 
Peter  Underbill, 
Garret  Van  Wicklen, 
Dan'l  Young, 
Wm.  Butler, 


Jacob  Weeks,  Jr. 
Zeb'n  Wright, 
Simeon  Walters, 
Joseph  Latham, 
Sam'l  Burr, 
Henry  Dickenson, 
March  McEwen, 
Darius  Allen, 
Israel  Oakley, 
Tho's  Smith,  Jr. 
Isaac  Carpenter, 
Richard  Weeks, 
Rob't  Wilson, 
Zeb'n  Doty, 
Dan'l  Hendrickson, 
John  Bennet, 
Jeronms  Leister, 
Refine  Weeks, 
Ab'm  Van  Wyck, 
Benj.  Cheshire, 
James  Voorhies, 


PETITION    AND    REPRESENTATION. 


119 


Cornelius  Suydam, 
Charles  Justus, 
Gabriel  Cock, 
Solomon  Wooden, 
John  Remsen, 
Isaac  Keen, 
John  Williams, 
Ab'm  Snedeker, 
Richard  Jackson, 
Geo.  Bayley, 
Tho's  Jackson, 
Nichol.  V'an  Cott, 
Ab'm  Allen, 
Dan'l  Allen, 
Hend'k  Hardenberg, 
Barnt  Snedeker, 
John  Ue  Vedito, 
Garret  Wortman, 
Dan'l  Van  Nostrand, 
Rich'd  He^vlett, 
Benajah  Bedle, 
Francis  Davenport, 
.Michael  DemotL, 
Elias  Burtis, 
Edward  Allison, 
Charles  Comwell, 
Sam'l  Jackson, 
John  Legross, 
Rich'd  Gildej-sleeve, 
Wm.  Gritman, 
John  Hall, 
Tho's  Williams, 
Tho's  Jackson, 
Lorance  Fish, 
Geo.  Smith, 
Jo's  Birdsall, 
Nathan  Skidmore, 
Israel  Seaman, 
Jacob  Jackson, 
Sam'l  Carman, 
Joshua  Tettil, 


John  Mcintosh, 
John  Hewlett, 
Stephen  Wood, 
Geo.  Watts, 
Isaac  Denton, 
Rich'd  Green,    *4~->, 
Joseph  Bedel, 
Jonah  Valentine, 
Christian  Snedeker, 
Wm.  Langdon, 
Ja's  Searing, 
Wm.  Pearsall, 
Jos.  Cadles,! 
Jas.  Comwell, 
Ephraim  Ludlow, 
Cornel  Smith, 
Wm.  Langdon, 
Amos  Smith, 
Jr.  Rich'd  Mott, 
Corn's  Bogert, 
Tunis  Covert, 
Jacob  Mott,  Jr. 
John  Sands, 
Micajah  Townsend, 
Joseph  Hegeman, 
Jesse  Weekes, 
Sam'l  Weekes, 
Jos.  Thorney  Craft, 
Tim'y  Townsend, 
Jotham  Townsend, 
W.  Townsend, 
Ja's  Craft, 
Cha's  Thorn, 
Tho's  Kipp, 
John  Weekes, 
Dan'l  Rapalje,  Sr. 
Jacobus  Ricker, 
Ab'm  Berrien, 
Garret  Luyster, 
Benj.  Field, 
John  Lawrence, 


Ab'm  PolhemuS; 
Nath'l  Hunt, 
Ab'm  Brinckerhoff, 
John  Leverich, 
Rem  P.  Remsen, 
John  Burroughs, 
Jacob  Palmer, 
John  Gorsline, 
Robert  T.  Collins, 
John  Parsall, 
Jacob  Bennett, 
Ab'm  Divine, 
Jores  BrinckerhofT, 
Peter  Smith,  Jr. 
Plat  Smith, 
W^aters  Lambertson, 
Nath'l  Woodruff, 
Dan'l  Ludlam, 
Simeon  Lugrin, 
Nath'l  Higbee, 
Nath'l  Smith, 
Rich'd  Roads, 
John  Losee, 
John  Van  Nostrand t, 
Peter  Smith,  Sr. 
John  Remsen, 
Tho's  Wiggins, 
Michael  Flowers, 
Sam'l  Thome, 
Gilbert  Cornell, 
Edward  Hicks, 
Tho's  Hicks, 
John  Mitchell,  Jr. 
Oba'h  Cornwell, 
Corn's  Cornwell, 
Augustine  Mitchell, 
Sam'l  Hutchings, 
John  Burtis, 
John  Woolley, 
Wm.  Milboum, 
Geo.  Rapalje, 


120 


PETITION    AND    REPRESENTATION. 


Henry  Hauxhurst, 
Benj.  Hicks, 
Newbury  Davenport^ 
Joseph  Eassam, 
David  Allen, 
Tho's  Lewis, 
John  Carle, 
Michael  Rogers^ 
Sam'l  Titus, 
John  Rodman, 
Jacob  Suydam, 
Peter  Alburtus, 
Benj.  Field, 
Geo.  Hicks, 
Oliver  Waters, 
Wm.  Burns, 
Oliver  Talman, 
John  Searing,, 
Wm.  Waters, 
Hend'k  Eldert, 
Wm.  Talman, 
Tho's  Fowler, 
Jacob  Griffin, 
John  Van  Liew, 
Rob't  Morrell, 
Caleb  Valentine, 
Nehemiah  Coe, 
Geo.  Rapalje,  Jr. 
Ja's  Morrell, 
Ab'm  J.  Rapalje, 
Stephen  Moore, 
John  Rapalje, 
Bern's  Rapalje, 
Jesse  Fish, 
Dan'l  Norstrandt, 
Christopher  Remsen, 
Alex'r  McMullen, 
Rich'd  Gardiner, 
Wm.  Steed, 
Silas  Lawrence, 
Nich'8  Wickoff, 


Jacobus  Collier, 
Ab'm  Probasco, 
Tho's  Youngs, 
Charles  Hicks-, 
Peter  H.  Waters, 
Ezekiel  Roe, 
John  Morrell, 
Wm.  Prince, 
James  Field, 
Sam'l  Thome, 
Christo'r  Robert, 
Jacob  Suydam, 
Benj.  Thorne,  Jr. 
Jos.  Thorne, 
Sam'l  Smith,  Jr. 
Wm.  Lawrence,  Jr. 
David  Fowler, 
Dan'l  Clement, 
John  Monfort, 
Dan'l  Hitchcock, 
Pepperell  Bloodgood, 
Caleb  Lawrence, 
John  Thorne^ 
Tho's  Foster, 
James  Areson, 
Darby  Doyel, 
Issachar  Polock, 
Benj.  Thorne, 
V.  Hicks, 
John  Talman, 
Steph.  Lawrence, 
Somerset  Lawrence, 
Rob't  Lawrence, 
Sam'l  Wright, 
Oliver  Cornell, 
Joseph  Beesley, 
Henry  Lowere, 
Rich'd  Ijoudon, 
Daniel  Townscnd, 
Jacob  Van  Wicklcn, 
Francis  Conihanc, 


David  Chado3me„ 
Wm.  Walters, 
Anthony  Wright, 
Ab'm  Remsen, 
Jos.  Carpenter,. 
Joseph  Cooper, 
The's  Cheshire, 
Dan'l  Weekes,  Jr, 
Francis  Blackburn, 
Rob't  Allen, 
Zophar  Hawkins, 
Jacob  Smith, 
Rob't  Colwell, 
John  Carpenter,. 
Corn's  Hoogland, 
John  Remsen, 
Ab'm  Weekes,. 
Nath'l  Weekes,. 
Tunis  Hoogland, 
Peter  Liester, 
W,  Braambos 
Jacob  Weekes, 
Anthony  Van  Nostrandt, 
Peter  Liester,  Jr. 
Farnandus  Suydam, 
Jacob  Dillingham, 
Dan'l  Dodge, 
John  Weekes, 
Wm.  Cheshire, 
Daniel  Latten, 
John  Carpenter, 
Jos.  Cooper,  Jr. 
Isaac  Whipps, 
Michael  Weekes, 
Sam'l  Bobbins, 
Simeon  Hauxhurst, 
Townsend  Weekes^ 
Tho's  Place, 
Jacobus  Suydam, 
Rem  Hardenberg, 
Geo.  Weekes, 


PETITION    AND    REPRESENTATION. 


121 


Dan'l  Weekes, 
Edmond  Weekes, 
John  Van  Noorstrandt, 
W.  Snedeker, 
S.  Clowes, 
W.  Pool, 

Sam'l  H.  Davenport, 
W.  Hewlett, 
Ambrose  Seaman, 
Jona.  Gildersleeve, 
Benj.  Smith,  R. 
Isaac  Jackson, 
John  Dorian, 
Tho's  Tredwell, 
Jona.  Cornelius, 
Jo's  Smith, 
Silas  Smith, 
John  Fetherbe, 
Benj.  Barker, 
W.  Ferribe, 
Noah  Seamorg, 
Rich'd  Jackson, 
Tunis  Covert, 
Ja's  Pettit, 
Oliver  Willis, 
Geo.  Weekes, 
Steph.  Hewlett, 
Geo.  Watts,  Jr. 
Reuben  Pine, 
Sylvester  Bedle, 
Mourris  Simonson, 
Tho's  Hicks, 
Samuel  Pettet, 
Jacob  Doxsee, 
Steph.  Cornwell,  Jr. 
Timothy  Clowes, 
Ja's  Smith, 
Geo.  Baldwin, 
David  Jackson, 
Sam'l  Smith, 
Gilbert  Van  Wyck, 


Freeman  Please, 
Isaac  Covert, 
Jordan  Lawrence, 
David  Laton, 
Ja's  Pine, 
W.  Frost, 
Benj   Latting,  Jr. 
Tillot  Col  well, 
Geo.  Downing, 
Geo.  Bayles, 
John  Tilley, 
Jacob  Valentine, 
Jacob  Carpenter, 
Ant.  Weekes, 
Annanias  Downing, 
John  Schenck, 
Wm.  Weyman, 
Jos.  Moore, 
W.  Leverich, 
John  Curtis, 
John  Debevois, 
Abra.  Polhemus,  Jr. 
Jos.  Gorsline, 
Jacob  Hallet,  Jr. 
John  Morrell, 
Jos.  Burroughs, 
John  Ketcham,  Jr. 
Rich'd  Rapalje, 
Jarel  Curtis, 
Abra.  Rapalje, 
Wm.  Bennet, 
Sam'l  Renne, 
Isaac  Brinckerhoff, 
Wm.  Creed,  Jr. 
David  Lamberson, 
Isaac  Ambeman, 
John  Smith, 
John  Skidmore, 
Dan'l  Bailey, 
Peter  Nostrandt, 
Walter  Smith, 


Nath'l  Smith, 
Wm.  Hendrickson, 
Isaac  Mills, 
Whithead  Skidmore, 
J.  D.  Peyster, 
Cha's  Smith, 
Wm.  Valentine, 
Tho's  Ireland, 
Gregory  Rete, 
Martin  Schenck,  Jr. 
Peter  Monfort, 
John  Clement, 
Henry  Stocker, 
John  Woolley,  Jr. 
Andries  Hegeman, 
Tho's  Smith, 
Dan'l  Ireland, 
W.  Smith,  Cow  Neck, 
John  Cornwall, 
Sam'l  Alline, 
John  Toffe, 
Benj.  Smith, 
Geo.  Hallet, 
Ja's  Lewis, 
W.  Willis. 
Mordecai  Willis, 
Jos.  Skidmore,  Sr. 
Lewis  Davenport, 
Ja's  Langdon, 
Aaron  Van  Nostrandt, 
Abm.  Van  Noorstrandt* 
Dan'l  Rapalje, 
Rulef  Duryee, 
Obadiah  Mills, 
Jeremiah  Remsen, 
Rob't  Doughty, 
Jo's  Lawrence, 
Simon  Simonson, 
Amos  Mills, 
Teunis  Covert,  Jr. 
John  Voorhies, 


122 


PETITION    AND    REPRESENTATION. 


Stephen  Lott, 
Derrick.  Bergen, 
Isaac  Pettit, 
Ja's  Marr, 
Jona.  Furman, 
Sam'l  Tredwell, 
Rob't  Dixon, 
Cha's  Cornell, 
Nath'l  Wright, 
Sam'l  Wright, 
Dominicus  Van  Dine, 
Arus  V.  Dine, 
Stephen  Voris, 
Simon  Voris, 
John  Suydara, 
Rem  Remsen, 
W.  Monfort, 
Simon  Lambertson, 
Tho's  Van  Wyck, 
Wright  Thorney  Craft. 
David  Valentine, 
Jordan  Coles, 
Mordecai  Beedle, 
John  Henderson, 
Steph.  Lawrence,  Jr. 
Nich's  Ludlam, 
W.  Hopkins,  Jr. 
Ambrose  Fish, 
Tho's  Lawson, 
Jacob  Bergen, 
Lawrence  Marston, 
Noah  Smith, 
Nich.  Smith, 
Dan'l  Whitehead, 
Benj.  Everitt, 
Douw  V.  Dine, 
Isaac  Ditmars, 
Garret  Ditmars, 
Aury  Boerum, 
John  Remsen, 
Douw  Ditmars, 


John  Ditmars, 
Jacob  Remsen, 
Nich's  Jones, 
Johannes  H.  Lott, 
Clark  Cock, 
Rem  Remsen, 
Henry  Higbie, 
Hend'k  Emans,  Jr. 
Jona.  Fish, 
John  Talman,  Jr. 
Thos.  Furman, 
John  Carpenter, 
Sam'l  Clement, 
Sam'l  Mott  Cornell, 
Johannes  Bergen, 
Peter  Ryerson, 
Thos.  Fowler, 
Henry  Townsend,  Jr. 
J.  V.  Wicklen, 
Tristam  Dodge, 
Jac.  Rhinelander, 
Levi  Weekes, 
Caleb  Underhill, 
Dan.  Weekes, 
Cha.  Burnett, 
Richard  Weekes, 
Robert  Hall, 
John  Robbins,  Sr. 
Baruch  Allen, 
Dan'l  Terry, 
Isaac  Smith, 
Arnold  Fleet, 
VVm.  Hoogland, 
Dan'l  Duryee, 
Jas.  Vanscot, 
John  Bennet,  Sr. 
John  Weekes,  Jr. 
Jeremiah  Cheshire, 
Dan'l  Birdsall, 
Jacob  Duryee, 
Garret  Monfort, 


George  Duryee, 
Edmund  Lindsay, 
Absalom  Wooden, 
John  Butler,  Jr. 
Josias  Latten, 
Amaziah  Wheeler, 
Jo.  Wortman, 
Joshua  Hammond, 
Melancthon  Thome, 
Abra.  Seaman, 
Sam.  Townsend, 
Penn  Cock, 
Dan.  Vanvelred, 
John  Allen, 
Robt.  Jackson. 
Barnt  Snedeker, 
Isaac  Robbins, 
Jeromus  Bennet,  Sr. 
Garret  Noorstrandt,  Jr. 
Benj.  Lester, 
Rich.  Langdon, 
Ja's  Smith, 
Luke  Cummins, 
Benj.  Dorlon, 
Henry  Miller, 
Corn.  Van  Noorstrandt, 
John  Birdsall, 
Increase  Pettit, 
John  Van  Noorstrandt, 
Thos.  Fetherbe, 
Dan'l  Smith,  Jr. 
Sam.  Birdsall, 
Sa.  Jackson,  the  3d. 
Stephen  Calas, 
Sam'l  Spragg, 
John  Verety, 
Abra.  Baldin, 
Amos  Powell, 
Micah  Williams, 
John  Smith, 
Steph.  Powell, 


PETITION    AND    REPRESENTATION. 


123 


Thos.  Dorlon, 
Benj.  Smith,. Tr. 
Seaman  Watts, 
J.  Baker, 
Sam.  Carman, 
P.  Pettett, 
Jo.  Lefferts, 
Tho.  Clowes, 
Elijah  Spragg, 
John  Townsend, 
Rich.  Townsend, 
Ben.  Dorland, 
S.  Stringham, 
Ste.  Baldin, 
Rich'd  Bruer, 
Israel  Smith, 
Fred'k  Nostrandt, 
Jackson  Mott, 
Coles  Carpenter, 
Nath'l  Coles, 
Thos.  Underhill, 
Benj.  Latting, 
John  Jackson,  Jr. 
Thos.  Kirby, 
Jos.  Wood, 
Thos.  Frost, 
Thos.  Hopkins, 
John  Jackson, 
Steph.  Thorn, 
Ja's  Bennett, 
Peter  Sniffen, 
Dan'l  Lawrence, 
John  Moore, 
Jacob  Moore, 
Wm.  Sackett, 
John  J.  Waters, 
John  Bragaw, 
Cha's  Debevois, 
John  Keams, 
David  Van  Wickel, 
Peter  Bragaw, 


Abm.  Brinckerhoff,  Jr. 
Robt.  Field, 
John  Van  Aulst, 
Howard  Furraan, 
Thomas  North, 
John  Fish, 
Joseph  Morrell, 
Cornelius  Rapalje, 
John  Williamson, 
W.  Van  Wyck, 
Isaac  Amberman,  Jr. 
Jacob  Ogden, 
John  Skidmore, 
John  Smith, 
Abm.  Colyer, 
Nich.  Everitt, 
Isaac  Rhoads, 
John  Brush, 
Sam'l  Messenger, 
Nath'l  Mills, 
Barnardus  Hendrickson 
Will.  Golder, 
John  Rice, 
Sam'l  Smith, 
John  Kissam, 
Daniel  Kissam,  3d, 
John  Searing, 
Wilson  Williams, 
Tho's  Thome,  Jr. 
John  Tredwell, 
John  Searing, 
Elbert  Hegeman,  Jr. 
Adam  Mott,  Sr. 
Simon  Sands, 
John  Smith, 
W.  Cornwell, 

Jas.  Hewlett,    ^j 

John  Mitchell,  Jr. 
Sam'l  Wooley, 
Benj.  Cheesman, 
Philip  Valentine, 


John  Marvin, 
Rich'd  Townsend,  Jr. 
Rich'd  Townsend, 
John  Golding, 
John  Smith, 
Dan'l  Wyllis, 
Elbert  Brinckerhoff, 
Teunis  Bergen, 
Robt.  Mitchell, 
Jacob  Nostrandt, 
Edward  Burling, 
Teunis  Brinckerhoff, 
Isaac  Bragaw, 
Sam'l  Seaman, 
Geo.  Brinckerhoff, 
Teunis  Brinckerhoff, 
Cha's  Hicks,  Jr. 
Walter  Skidmore, 
Tho's  Valentine, 
Reuliff  Voorhees, 
,Nath'l  Provoost, 
Jacob  Field, 
David  Hallet, 
John  Williams, 
Sam'l  Carman, 
Silas  Carman, 
Rich'd  Lowdon, 
John  Snedeker, 
Luke  Eldert, 
John  Waters, 
Sam'l  Skidmore,  Jr. 
Jaques  Johnson, 
Corn.  Bennett, 
Albert  Snedeker, 
Sam'l  Skidmore, 
Nicholas  Van  Dyck, 
Philip  Allen, 
Henry  Allen, 
John  Allen, 
Steph.  Van  Wyck, 
Chas.  Hicks, 


124 


PETITION    AND    REPRESENTATION. 


Nehemiah  Carpenter, 
George  Cornwell, 
John  Cock, 
Rich'dLattin, 
John  Bremner, 
Jos.  Place,  cordwainer. 
Luke  Bergen, 
Sam'l  Thome, 
Geo.  Thome, 
John  Roe, 
Jacob  Gorsling, 
Thomas  Loweree, 
Sam'l  Moore,  Sr. 
Isaac  Lawrence, 
Jacobus  Lint, 
Abm.  Lint, 
Dan'l  Lint, 
Thos.  Lawrence, 
Sam'l  Cornell, 
Benj.  Everitt, 
John  Burtis, 
Hendr'k  Suydam, 
Corn.  Ryerson, 
Isaac  Lefferts, 
Wm   Glean, 
Martin  Rapalje, 
Jacob  Carpenter, 
Joshua  Carpenter, 
Da.  Field, 
Whit.  Field, 
Joha.  Snedeker, 
W.  Creed,  Sr. 
Robert  Coe,Jr. 
Sam'l  Fosdick, 
Abm.  Van  Wicklen, 
Nicholas  Weekes, 
Johannes  Covert, 
Geo.  Wright, 
Absalom  Townsend, 
Geo.  Youngs, 
Thos.  Fleet, 


W.  McCoun, 
John  Robbins, 
Jacob  Robbins, 
Jacob  Van  Noorstrandt 
Micha  Weekes, 
Elias  Chadoyne, 
Corn.  Hoogland,  Jr. 
John  Doty, 
Corn.  Vanscott, 
Nich.  Bennet, 
W.  Bennet, 
Dan'l  Burr, 
Somick  Birdsall, 
Sam'l  Weeks, 
Peter  Nostrandt, 
John  Hewlett,  Sr. 
Joost  Duryea, 
Henry  Powell, 
John  Amberman, 
Henry  Ludlam,  Jr. 
Isaac  Weekes, 
John  Schenck, 
David  Tilley, 
Robert  Townsend, 
Daniel  Youngs,  Jr. 
John  Hauxhurst, 
Jona.  Gorham, 
Charles  Gulliver, 
Henry  Townsend, 
Minne  Van  Sicklen, 
Isaac  Seaman, 
Robert  Jackson,  Jr. 
Ja's  Townsend,  Dr. 
Wm.  Crystall, 
Garret  Noorstrandt, 
John  Baker, 
Gorce  Snedeker, 
Sylvanus  Bedell, 
W.  Welling, 
Rich'd  Smith, 
Jas.  llanrahan, 


David  Sammis, 
Annanias  Southard, 
Jona.  Pratt, 
,Jas.  Birdsall, 
W.^Pettit, 
Sam'l  Dorlon, 
Dan'l  Smith, 
Sam'l  Jackson, 
Rich'd  Smith, 
Sam'l  Green, 
Rich'd  Pine, 
Isaac  Smith, 
Peter  Jones, 
Garret  Golder, 
John  Mott, 
W.  Thurston, 
Peter  Lowge, 
LefTert  Haugevv^ort, 
Zeb.  Smith, 
Thos.  Seaman, 
W.Smith,  Jr. 
Sam'l  Nichols, 
Timothy  Rhoads, 
Gerardus  Clowes, 
Benj.  Wiggins, 
Thos.  Wiggins, 
Sam'l  Abrams, 
Joseph  Pettit,  Jr. 
Benj.  Dorland,  Jr. 
Pelham  Sands, 
Carman  Burtis, 
Carman  Rushmore, 
Sam'l  Shaw, 
David  Bedell, 
Noah  Combs, 
John  Demott, 
Dan'l  Cock,  Jr. 
Townsend  Dickenson, 
Rem  liegeman, 
Dan'l  Coles, 
Jeromus  Bennett, 


PETITION    AND    REPRESENTATION. 


125 


John  Probasco, 
Michael  Mudge, 
Solomon  Craft, 
Cha's  Frost, 
W.  Coles, 
Thorn.  Goldin, 
Benj.  Coles, 
Geo.  Downing, 
Clarke  Lawrence, 
John  Moore,  Jr. 
Ja's  Moore, 
Tho's  Morrell, 
Jeromus  Remsen, 
Thos.  Betts, 
Geo.  Debevois, 
Edward  Ortus, 
Thos.  Hunt, 
W.  Furman, 
John  Pettit, 
John  Van  Alst,  Jr. 
Gabriel  Furman, 
Geo.  Sands, 
John  Greenoak, 
John  Greenoak,  Jr. 
Geo.  Rapalje, 
John  Martin, 
Martin  Johnson, 
John  Amberman, 
Thos.  Hinchman, 
Amos  Denton, 
Obadiah  Hinchman, 
John  Hinchman, 
Sam'l  Higbie, 
Dan'l  Ereritt, 
Lambert  Moore, 
Dan'l  Smith, 
Sam'l  Mills, 
Aaron  Hendrickson, 
Garret  Noostrandt, 
Thos.  Martin, 
Nath'l  Mills, 


Nath'l  Denton, 
Benj.  Ackerly, 
Jos.  Hewlett, 
John  Thomas, 
Thos.  Pearsall. 
Joseph  Thorne, 
Thos.  Hollowed, 
Henry  Sands, 
Adrian  Onderdonck, 
John  Whaley, 
John  Morrel, 
Israel  Baxter, 
Philip  Wooley, 
Jos.  Clement,  Jr. 
Rich'd  Place, 
Sam'l  Way, 
Martin  Schenck, 
Peter  Losee, 
Jona.  Searing, 
Joseph  Starkings, 
Derrick  Albertson, 
Philip  Young, 
J.  J.  Troup, 
Andries  Kashaw, 
Chas.  Cornell, 
John  Mitchell, 
Henry  Townsend, 
W.  Frost, 
Henry  Ludlam, 
Jos.  Ludlam, 
Jacob  Duryee, 
D.  W.  Kissam, 
John  Burtis, 
Aaron  Duryee, 
W.  Bennett, 
Thos.  Cornell, 
Hervey  Col  well, 
Albert  Coles, 
Robert  Thomey  Craft, 
Baruch  Cornell, 
Dan'l  Kirby, 


Comfort  Cornell, 
Rich'd  Smith, 
Dan'l  Albertson, 
Nathan  Horton, 
John  Whippo, 
W.  Crooker, 
Jos.  Lawrence, 
Dan'l  Hopkins, 
Tho's  Alsop, 
Martin  Van  Noostrand, 
Jeremiah  Port, 
Sylvester  Cornell, 
Edward  Col  well, 
Thos.  Ludlam, 
Dan'l  Cock, 
John  Needham, 
Joseph  Denton, 
Robert  Valentine, 
W.  Willing, 
Philip  Allen, 

Birdsall,  Jr. 

Elijah  Wood, 
Ja's  Pine, 
John  Boerum, 
John  Hendrickson, 
Ja's  Wood, 
W.  Cornell, 
Rich'd  Hallett, 
Ob.  Valentine, 
Geo.  Weekes,  Sr. 
Job  Duryee, 
Ja's  Harper, 
Jos.  Denton, 
Aaron  Simonson, 
Hend'k  Emraens. 
Seaman  Weekes, 
Jacob  Williams, 
David  Waters, 
Nich.  Van  Arsdalen, 
W.  Hallet, 
Anthony  Rhodes, 


126 


PETITION    AND    REPRESENTATION. 


Ja's  Wooden, 

Jacob  Kashow, 

Cha's  Feke, 

Dan'l  Underbill, 

Stephen  Denton, 

Sam'l  Townsend, 

Daniel  Hall, 

Elijah  Cock, 

Gilbert  McCoun, 

John  Fleet, 

John  Weeks,  Sr. 

Baruch  Underbill, 

Henry  Wheeler, 

John  Chiser, 

Thos.  Wriglit, 

Gab'l  Duryee, 

Steph.  Hendrickson, 

Garret  Bennitt, 

Augustine  McCoun, 

Nicb.  Wright, 

W.  Burell, 

Jacobus  Ryder, 

Penn  Week, 

Benj.  Cock, 

Luke  Fleet, 

Sam'l  Cheshire, 

Tice  Lane, 
Derrick  Amberman, 

Michael  Butler, 
Robt.  Colwell, 
Peter  Wheeler, 
Isaac  Remsen,  Jr. 
John  Townsend,  Jr. 
Jos.  Weekes, 
Nicb.  Van  Cott,  Jr. 
John  Walters, 
Joseph  Hauxhurst, 
Jacob  Beldel, 
Wm.  Ludlam, 
Jona.  Seaman, 
Jacob  Williams, 


Gilbert  Wright, 
John  Youngs, 
Jeromus  Bennett, 
Peter  Hegeman, 
Chas.  Simonson, 
Adam  Mott, 
Jacobus  Lawrence, 
Epenetus  Piatt, 
Dan'l  Hewlett,  Jr. 
Peter  Cock, 
Caleb  Southward, 
John  Pratt, 
Oliver  Birdsall, 
John  Pettit, 
Jos.  Dorlen, 
Sam'l  Denton, 
Townsend  Jaclcson, 
Gershom  Smith, 
W.  Smith,  Jr. 
Benj.  Carman, 
John  Post, 
Thos.  Seaman, 
Sam'l  Mott, 
Sam'l  Mott,  3d. 
Parmenas  Jackson, 
Joseph  Hall, 
Jno.  Hall,  Jr. 
Solomon  Pool, 
Obadiah  Seaman, 
Thos.  Hutchings, 
Rich'd  Rhoads, 
Sam'l  Pettett, 
Thos.  Dorland, 
Oba.  Pettit, 
Dan'l  Murray, 
Jno.  Hegeman, 
Joseph  Clowes, 
Nichols  Betty, 
Sam'l  Sands, 
Ja's  Burtis, 
John  Jackson, 


Benj.  Jackson, 
Elias  Dorlon,  3d. 
Walter  Covert, 
Sam'l  Demott, 
Jno.  Foster, 
Jacamiah  Bedell, 
Ja's  Townsend,  Jr. 
Obadiah  Lawrence, 
Timothy  EUison, 
Geo.  Bennett, 
Amos  Underbill, 
Peter  Thorney  Craft, 
W.  Roe, 
Samson  Crooker, 
Jacobus  Luister, 
Hewlett  Townsend, 
John  Weekes, 
Peter  Monfort, 
Jacob  Downing, 
Jona.  Smith, 
Nathan'l  Moore, 
Nathan'l  Moore,  Jr., 
Richard  Morrell, 
Sam'l  Waldron, 
John  Way, 
Dan'l  Debevois, 
Benj.  Moore, 
Geo.  Brinckerhoff, 
Geo.  Brinckerhoff,  3d, 
Tho's  Burroughs, 
Hend'k  Jacobs, 
James  Morrell, 
John  M'Dannaugh, 
Edmond  Penfold, 
Jeromus  Rapalje, 
Joseph  Burhng, 
Richard  Rhoades, 
Nicholas  Amberman, 
Tho's  Denton, 
Amos  Denton,  Jr., 
Garret  Van  Wicklen, 


PETITION    AND    REPRESENTATION. 


127 


Jacob  Lott, 
Wm.  Ludlam,  Sen., 
Wm.  Forbus, 
Tho's  Higbie, 
Ab'm  Hendrickson, 
Albert  Hendrickson, 
Wm.  Watts, 
James  Everett, 
Nath'l  Mills,  Jr.. 
Jabez  Woodruff, 
Peter  Onderdonck, 
Joris  Rapalje, 
Elbert  Hegeman, 
John  Burtis, 
Joseph  Ackerly, 
Ed.  Penny, 
Caleb  Morrell, 
Hend'k  Onderdonck, 
Jacob  Bumslead, 
Andrew  Hegeman,  Jr., 
Wm.  Smith, 
Timothy  Smith, 
James  Howard, 
Philip  S.  Piatt, 
Philip  Thome, 
Charles  Titus, 
Jacob  Valentine, 
Benj.  Downing, 
Samuel  Titus, 
John  Bashford, 
Benj.  Tredwell,  Dr., 
Tho's  Seaman,  cooper, 
Richard  Fuller, 
Philip  Thome, 
Jeromus  Rapalje, 
Geo.  D.  Ludlow, 
Daniel  Kissam, 
Leonard  Cutting,  Rev., 
David  Colden, 
G.  G.  Ludlow,  Col., 
Joshua  Bloomer,  Hen., 


Abraham  Walton, 
Charles  Arding, 
Jon  a.  Fisk, 
Samuel  Fish, 
Robt.  Crommeline, 
John  Shoals, 
Joseph  Field, 
Thomas  Smith, 
Samuel  Cornell, 
Valentine  H.  Peters, 
Hend'k  Brinckerhoff, 
Daniel  Hewlett,  Sr., 
Uriah  Piatt, 
John  Slone, 
Richard  Alsop, 
Daniel  Duryee, 
Daniel  Feeke, 
Charles  M'Evers, 
Jacob  Mott, 
James  Hallett, 
W.  Hallett, 
Geo.  Ryerson, 
Ab'm  Lawrence, 
John  Townsend, 
Richard  Smith, 
Stephen  Thome, 
Daniel  Brinckerhoff, 
Prior  Townsend, 
Abra.  Schenck, 
W.  Cock, 
Richard  Titus, 
Daniel  Thome, 
Peter  Titus, 
Peter  Titus,  Jr., 
Elbert  Adrianse, 
Stephen  Frost, 
Simon  Remsen, 
Caspar  Sprong, 
Cornelius  Rapalje, 
Harman  Hendrickson, 
James  Carpenter, 


Penn  Frost, 
John  Polhemus, 
Wm.  Latting, 
Jona.  Morrell, 
Edward  Thome, 
Stephen  Thome,  Jr., 
John  Butler, 
Samuel  Mudy, 
Andrew  Ricker, 
Tho's  Howell  Smith, 
Geo.  Underbill, 
John  Lambertson, 
Isaac  Remsen, 
Tho.  Cock, 
Moury  Kashaw, 
Wm.  Wright, 
Jona.  Rosell, 
Wm.  Reuben  Hall, 
Procolus  McCoun, 
John  Needham,  Jr., 
Samuel  Townsend, 
Tho.  Colwell, 
Samuel  Hare,  Jr., 
Samuel  Hare,  Sr. 
Samuel  Jones, 
Wm.  Jones, 
David  Jones, 
John  Jones, 
Wm.  Hall, 
Walter  Jones, 
Abr.  Duryee, 
Ab'm  Wansor, 
John  Bennet,  Jr., 
Geo.  Townsend,  Jr. 
Jeremiah  Robbins, 
Stephen  Robbins, 
Daniel  Burr,  Jr., 
Daniel  Noostrandt, 
Hanomon  Lelond, 
James  Lifford, 
John  Hewlett, 


128 


PETITION    AND    REPRESENTATION, 


Garret  Duryee, 
John  Ryder, 
Henry  Wanser,  Jr., 
Peter  Noostrandt,  Jr., 
Levi  Cock, 
Gideon  Wright, 
Cornelius  Remsen, 
Samuel  Hawxhurst, 
Samuel  Youngs, 
W.  Townsend, 
Samuel  Baulding, 
Abel  Baulding, 
Noah  Mott,  Jr., 
W.  Hawxhurst, 
W.  Vanreelred, 
John  Suydam, 
John  Miller, 
John  Cashow,  minor, 
Stephen  Vedito, 
John  Noostrandt, 
Elias  Wheeler, 
Nehemiah  Sammis, 
Samuel  Langdon, 
Henry  WooUey, 
Solomon  Doxey, 
Henry  Shaw, 
Wm.  Stites, 
Solomon  Seaman, 
John  Duryee, 
Joseph  Edoll, 
David  Dorlon, 
Andrew  Allen, 
Wm.  Smith, 
Richard  Jackson,  Jr., 
Obadiah  Jackson, 
Johannes  Van  Cotts,  Jr. 
John  Jackson, 
Jacob  Seaman, 
Morris  Green, 
Samuel  Combs, 
Peter  Schenck, 


John  Laton, 
Peter  Thomas, 
Wm.  StilwelJ, 
John  Smith, 
Coles  Mudge, 
Wm.  Mudge, 
John  Luyster, 
Albert  Albertson, 
Derick  Albertson, 
Joseph  Coles, 
Benj.  Thorney  Craft, 
W.  Laton, 

Albert  Van  Noostrandt, 
Richard  Townsend, 
Henry  Thorney  Craft, 
Jarvis  Coles, 
Benj.  Downing, 
Stephen  Smith, 
Samuel  Moore, 
David  Moore, 
Wm.  Howard, 
Robert  Coe, 
Mr.  Lawrence, 
John  Debevois,  Jr., 
Daniel  Wiggins, 
Teunis  Brinckerhoff, 
Bernardus  Bloom, 
Daniel  Luyster, 
Richard  Betts, 
Robt.  Jackson, 
John  Snow, 
Samuel  Wainwright, 
John  Denise,  Jr., 
John  Charlton, 
John  Bennet, 
,John  Roades, 
John  Montanye, 
Ab'm  Lott, 
Benj.  Creed, 
Jos.  Thortie, 
Dan'l  Cornwell, 


Moses  Higbie, 
Hope  Roads, 
Cornelius  Losee, 
Hend'k  Hendrickson, 
Ab'm  Ditmars, 
Joseph  Golder, 
Nicholas  Van  Dam, 
Caleb  Cruees, 
James  Hughston, 
Joseph  Oldfield, 
Thomas  Thome, 
Wm.  Hutchings, 
Thomas  Dodge, 
Jona.  Hutchings, 
Richard  Thorne, 
Thomas  Applebey, 
Benj.  WooUey, 
Hend'k  Van  Der  Belt, 
Samuel  Latham, 
Nicholas  Willson, 
Henry  Alline,  Sr. 
Samuel  Hewlett, 
Benj.  Sands, 
John  Thorne, 
Samuel  Balding, 
James  Crooker, 
Richard  Kirk, 
Peter  Waters, 
Wm.  Williams, 
Wm.  Cox. 
Caleb  Cornell, 
Powel  Amberman, 
Jacob  Doughty, 
John  Van  Noorstrandt, 
Joseph  Skidmore, 
Ab'm  Demott, 
John  Kashaw, 
Jo.  Coe, 
Al.  Brinckerhoff. 
Benj.  Tredwell, 
Richard  Wiggins, 


PETITION    AND    REPRESENTATION.  129 

To  his  Excellency,  Wm.  Tryon,  Esq.,  Capt.  General,  and 
Governor  of  the  Province  of  New-York,  and  the  terri- 
tories thereon  depending,  in  America :    Chancellor  and 
Vice  Admiral  of  the  same,  &c.  &c.  &;c. 
May  it  please  your  Excellency, — we,  the  freeholders  and 
inhabitants  of  Q,ueens  county,  are  happy  once  again  to  address 
your  Excellency  in  the  capital  of  the  Province.     We  heartily 
congratulate  you  on  your  return,  which  we  consider  as  the 
earnest  of  farther  success,  and  hope  ere  long  the  whole  Pro- 
vince  will   feel   the   blessings  of  your  Excellency's   upright 
administration. 

Anxiously  do  we  look  forward  to  the  time,  when  the  diso- 
bedient shall  return  to  their  duty,  and  the  ravages  of  war  cease 
to  desolate  this  once  flourishing  country. 

That  we  may  be  restored  to  the  King's  most  gracious  pro- 
tection, torn  from  us  by  the  hand  of  violence ;  and  quicken 
others  by  our  example  to  embrace  the  repeated  invitations  of 
his  Majesty's  commissioners,  we  have  resolved  on  and  sub- 
scribed a  dutiful  representation  and  petition,  setting  forth  to 
them  our  loyal  disposition,  and  praying  that  the  county  may 
be  declared  at  the  King's  peace. 

We  entreat  your  Excellency  to  present  our  petition ;  and 
rely  on  your  known  humanity  and  benevolence  for  the  exertion 
of  your  influence  in  behalf  of  the  well  affected  county  of 
Queens,  that  it  may  again  in  the  bosom  of  peace  enjoy  the 
royal  favor  under  your  Excellency's  paternal  care  and  atten- 
tion. 

Signed  by  desire  of  and  in  behalf  of  1293  freeholders  and 
inhabitants,  by  DAVID  GOLDEN. 

Queens  County,  Oct.  21,  1776. 

New-York,  Nov.  12,  1776. 
Sir — In  compliance  with  the  request  in  the  address  present- 
ed to  me  by  you,  in  behalf  of  the  inhabitants  of  Queens  county, 
I  immediately  after  my  return  from  head  quarters  waited  on 
Lord  Howe,  one  of  the  King's  commissioners  for  restoring 
ipeace  to  his  Majesty's  colonies,  and  presented  to  his  Lordship 
(the  very  dutiful  and  loyal  petition  and  representation  of  the 
'said  inhabitants,  who  was  pleased  to  say.  "  He  would  take  the 


130  PETITION    AND    REPRESENTATION. 

earliest  opportunity  of  communicating  with  Gen.  Howe  on  the 
occasion." 

This  public  testimony  from  the  inhabitants  of  dueens 
county,  of  their  unshaken  loyalty  to  our  most  gracious  sove- 
reign, and  of  their  zealous  attachment  to  the  British  constitu- 
tion, is  particularly  agreeable  to  me,  and  entitles  them  to  my 
best  endeavors  for  a  speedy  accomplishment  of  their  wishes  : 
the  season  and  the  expediency  of  the  granting  whereof  are 
safely  and  happily  committed  to  the  wisdom  and  direction  of 
his  Majesty's  commissioners. 

I  am,  with  regard,  sir, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

WM.  TRYON. 
David  Golden,  Esq.,  of  Queens  Co. 

124.  Gov.  Tryon  to  Lord  Geo.  Germaine. 

New-York,  Dec.  2^,  1776. 

"  On  the  10th  inst.  I  reviewed  the  militia  of  Queens  county 
at  Hempstead,  when  820  men  were  mustered  :  and  on  Thurs- 
day following  I  saw  the  Suffolk  militia  at  Brookhaven,  where 
near  80O  appeared,  to  all  of  whom,  as  well  as  to  the  militia  of 
Queens  county,  I  had  in  my  presence  an  oath  of  allegiance 
and  fidelity  administered. 

"  I  took  much  pains  in  explaining  to  the  people  (having 
formed  them  into  circles)  the  iniquitous  arts,  &c.,  that  had 
been  practised  on  their  credulity,  to  seduce  and  mislead  them : 
and  I  had  the  satisfaction  to  observe  among  them  a  general 
return  of  confidence  in  government.  A  very  large  majority  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Queens  county  have  indeed  steadfastly 
maintained  their  loyal  principles,  as  have  small  districts  in 
Sufiblk.  Some  men  from  South  and  East  Hampton,  who 
attended  the  review,  assured  me  that  rebel  parties  from  Con- 
necticut were  then  on  the  easternmost  part  of  the  island,  and 
which  prevented  in  general  the  settlers  in  that  quarter  from 
attending  my  summons,  but  that  they  are  very  desirous  to  live 
under  a  peaceable  obedience  to  his  Majesty's  authority.  (The 
inclosed  letter,  from  their  Presbyterian  minister,  will  more  fully 
explain  their  sentiments.)  Three  companies,  I  learned,  had 
been  raised  out  of  Sufi'olk  for  the  rebel  army,  most  of  whom,  I 


PETITION    AND    REPRESENTATION.  131 

was  made  to  understand,  would  quit  that  service  if  they  could 
get  home.— (See  98.) 

"  I  have  the  pleasure  to  assure  your  Lordship,  through  the 
whole  of  this  tour  I  did  not  hear  the  least  murmur  of  discon- 
tent, but  a  general  satisfaction  expressed  at  my  coming  among 
them  ;  and  to  judge  from  the  temper  and  disposition  I  per- 
ceived in  them,  there  is  not  the  least  apprehension  of  any  far- 
ther commotions  from  the  inhabitants  OEf  Long  Island.  All  are 
industrious  in  bringing  to  market  what  provisions  the  island 
affords. 

"  While  on  Long  Island  I  gave  certificates  to  near  300  men, 
who  signed  the  declaration  prescribed  by  the  King's  commis- 
sioners' proclamation  of  the  30th  of  November  last.  Large 
bodies  of  the  people  have  already  taken  the  benefit  of  the 
grace  therein  offered  them. 

"  The  General  has  been  pleased  to  give  my  Secretary,  Col. 
Fanning,  a  warrant  to  raise  a  battalion  of  Provincials  of  500 
men.  They  are  to  be  enlisted  for  the  American  service,  and 
for  the  term  of  two  years,  or  during  the  war,  at  the  General's 
discretion. 

"  Jarz.  20,  1777.  I  have  solicited  Gen.  Howe  to  give  me 
800  stand  of  arms  for  the  loyal  inhabitants  of  dueens  county.* 
They  were  sent  last  week  to  Col.  Ludlow,  colonel  of  the  militia, 
to  distribute  among  the  most  faithful  subjects. 

"  Feb.  11,  1777,  The  loyal  inhabitants  of  Glueens  county 
received  the  800  stand  of  arms  distributed  by  the  General's 
permission,  with  demonstrations  of  joy,  and  with  a  professed 
resolution  to  use  them  in  defence  of  the  island. 

'•  I  am  anxious  that  some  grace  from  government  may 
speedily  be  extended  to  this  loyal  quarter  of  the  Province." 

*  To  replace  those  carried  off  by  Col.  Heard,  (see  38.)  Tryon  re- 
turned to  town  from  raising  Provincial  forces  on  Long  Island  Dec.  15, 
1776.— Ed. 


PART  IV. 

ARBIED       OCCUPATION. 
NEWTOWN. 

125.  Some  young  Tories,  one  night,  shortly  after  the  British 
got  possession  of  Newtown,  sawed  off  the  steeple  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church — a  trick  they  tried  at  Jamaica,  also.  Some 
years  after  the  peace,  when  a  tall  steeple  in  New- York  was  to 
be  cut  off  and  lowered,  there  was  inquiry  made  for  a  skilful 
mechanic  to  perform  so  critical  an  operation.  "  Oh,"  said  Capt. 
Rutgers,  "  I  know  a  person  that  will  suit  your  purpose."  "  Who 
is  it  ?"  "  Why,  Dr.  M."  "  Oh,  he  is  only  a  Doctor."  "  No 
matter  for  that,  only  give  him  a  hand-saw  and  a  well-rope^  and 
he'll  have  it  off'  while  you  are  asleep." 

The  Presbyterian  church  was  first  used  as  a  prison  and 
guard-house,  and  the  pews  taken  out.  At  length  the  building 
was  taken  down  and  used  for  making  huts  on  Renny's  place. 
The  pulpit  pillar  stood  beside  the  town  house  as  a  horse  post. 
"  To  such  base  uses  may  we  come  at  last  !" 

The  Presbyterians  had  no  preaching  here,  but  attended  Mr. 
Burnet's  church  at  Jamaica.  After  the  peace  they  used  the 
Dutch  church  once  a  fortnight,  which  does  not  appear  to  have 
been  molested, 

126.  Soldiers  lay  in  various  parts  of  Newtown  beside  the 
town  spot.  Those  at  Dutch  Kills  lay  in  three  tiers  on  the  rising 
ground,  cast  of  A.  Paynter's.  They  came  in  the  summer,  be- 
fore the  evacuation.  Their  lines  included  a  store,  (now  T. 
Paynter's,)  from  which  they  drank  a  hogshead  of  rum  every 
three  days.  They  would  be  fetching  water  nearly  all  day  long 
from  the  spring  below,  an  excellent  one,  being  called  St.  George. 
Hessians  were  also  billeted  in  houses  at  the  Kills.  Grena- 
diers, called  Macaronis,  from  their  neatness,  also  lav  there. 


ARMED    OCCUPATION.  133 

There  was  an  encampment  at  Train's  meadow,  in  front  of 
Wm.  Leverich's,  on  Wm.  Palmer's  land,  (since  Shaw's.)    Near 

by,  in  the  woods  of  Alburtis,  (now Penfold's,)  were  barrels 

sunk  in  the  ground  for  the  reception  of  stolen  articles. 

There  was  a  large  encampment  on  land  of  Andries  Bra- 
gaw,  (since  Morrison's,)  south  of  the  road  to  Dutch  Kills. 

The  huts  on  Bragaw's  and  J.  Morrell's  land  were  50  feet 
long,  and  made  rectangular,  thus:  ].  and  open  to  the  south,  so 
as  to  admit  the  sun's  rays  and  keep  off  the  north-west  wind. 
The  outside  was  sodded  up  to  the  roof,  (which  was  thatched,) 
the  inner  wall  was  of  square  hewn  logs ;  in  the  centre  was 
the  parade. 

Some  Hessians  were  hutted  at  D.  S.  Mills'.  They  had  40 
or  50  huts  dug  in  the  side  hill,  sodded  and  covered  with  straw. 
They  were  the  leavings  of  previous  recruitings,  and  were  puny 
little  fellows,  and  died  off  in  great  numbers. 

^  In  summer,  the  soldiers  lay  encamped  in  tents ;  in  winter, 
in  huts,  or  else  billeted  in  farmers'  kitchens.  Each  family  was 
allowed  one  fire-place,  and  the  officers  fixed  the  number  of  sol- 
diers to  be  billeted  in  each  house,  which  was  usually  from  10  to 
20.  They  had  three  tiers  of  hammocks,  one  above  the  other, 
ranged  round  the  room,  and  made  of  boards  stripped  from  some 
fence  or  outbuilding. 

127.  Sept.  29,  '77,  Gaine.  $5  reward.  Strayed  or  stolen 
from  Samuel  Nottingham,  near  the  landing  at  the  Kills,  a  grey 
horse. 

128.  Jan.  24,  '78,  Rio.  20s.  sterling  reward.  Deserted 
from  Capt.  Galbreath's  company,  [Delancy's  3d  battalion,] 
at  Newtown,  Jan.  13,  Enos  Blakely,  born  in  Conn. 

129.  Jan.  26,  '78,  Gaine.  An  officer's  sash  taken  from  a 
straggler  by  an  officer  of  Gen.  Delancy's  corps,  now  stationed 
at  Newtown. 

130.  Sept.  30,  '78,  Ric.  The  petition  of  the  Loyal  Refu- 
gees on  Long  Island  to  the  King's  Commissioners,  is  left  for 
signature  with  Col.  Kirkland,  who  will  attend  at  Mr.  Rapalje's, 
[Inn,  since  Howard's,]  Newtown.* 

*  Gen.  Warren  was  quartered  at  the  house  (nov/  D.  S.  Jones').at  En- 
glish Kills;  Major  Humphreys,  at  the  Town  House  ;  Col.  Richmandt,  a 

7 


134  ARMED    OrCUPATION. 

German,  at  W.  Leverich's  ;  Capt.  Raymond,  at  D.  V.  Dyne's,  (now  D. 
S.  Mills'  ;)  Major  Tho's  Barclay,  at  R.  Berrian's,  (now  B.  Denton's.) 

131.  Wanted,  a  Purser's  Steward.  Apply  on  Board  the 
Grand  Duke,  off  the  Bowery,  on  L.  I.     Riv.,  Oct.  7,  '78. 

132..  Oct.  19,  '78,  Gaine.  The  house  of  Joseph  Hallet, 
near  Newtown,  was  broken  open  on  the  night  of  Thursday 
last,  by  six  persons,  who  took  10  guineas  in  a  green  purse,  a 
gold  and  a  silver  watch. 

133.  Oct.  21,  '78,  Riv.  Run  away,  a  negro  boy,  &c.  Any 
person  who  will  bring  him  to  the  17th  regiment  of  dragoons,  at 
Newtown,  will  receive  5  guineas  reward. 

134.  Dec.  9,  '78,  Riv.  Whereas,  the  safety  of  the  city  and 
the  preservation  of  the  shipping,  require  the  wharves  to  be 
kept  clear ;  all  vessels  intending  to  winter  at  New-York  (not 
in  service  of  government)  are' ordered  to  be  removed  to  New- 
town Creek. 

135.  Jan.  13,  '79,  Riv.  $5  reward.  Deserted  from  the  42d 
regiment  at  Newtown,  James  Docharty,  wagoner:  had  on  a 
grey  duffil  coat,  white  waistcoat  and  red  breeches  ;  also,  John 
Steele,  a  negro,  had  on  a  short  jacket,  (private's  uniform  of 
42d,)  red  waistcoat  and  brown  trowsers.  Owners  of  privateers 
and  ves^feels  are  forewarned,  &c. 

136.  Feb.6,''19.  Rir.  Two  guineas  reward.  Lost,  between 
the  guard  house  of  the  42d  regiment  [now  D.  S.  Mills']  and 
Newtown,  a  Pinchbeck  watch,  to  which  was  fixed  a  seal,  two 
keys,  and  two  padlock  keys,  witli  a  green  silk  string. 

137.  Feb.  17,  '79,  Riv.  $5  reward.  Run  away  from  Ber- 
nardus  Bloom,  a  negro  Jeff,  &c.  All  masters  ol  vessels  and 
others  are  desired  not  to  harbor  him,  but  at  their  peril. 

138.  $10  reivard.  Run  away  from  Caspar  Springsteen, 
April  23,  '79,  Charles,  a  negro  of  yellowish  cast,  and  plays  on 
the  fiddle.  Masters  of  vessels  are  cautioned  not  to  carry  him 
off,  on  pain  of  prosecutioii. 

139.  Riv.,  May  1,  '79.     Address  presented  by  the  principal  in- 
fiabitants  of  Newtown,  to  Lieut.  Col.  Sterling;  on  the  morning 
before  he  left  his  winter  quarters  : 
The  inhabitants  of  Newtown  beg  leave  to  make  their  hearty 


J 


NEWTOWN. 


135 


and  grateful  acknowledgments  to  Col.  Sterling,  and  the  offi- 
cers of  the  42d  regiment,*  for  their  very  equitable,  poHte  and 
friendly  conduct  during  their  winter  stay  among  them  :  they 
will  ever  entertain  an  affectionate  esteem  and  regard  for  them, 
and  will  never  forget  that  they  have  been  treated  with  all  the 
justice  and  cordiality  due  to  fellow  subjects  and  citizens. 

They,  at  the  same  time,  request  the  favor  of  Col.  Sterling 
to  return  their  sincere  thanks  to  the  regiment  in  general,  for 
their  regular,  orderly  and  honorable  behavior,  so  conformable 
to  the  true  character  of  gentlemen  and  soldiers. 

They  part  with  the  42d  regiment  with  regret,  and  wish  them 
glory  and  success.     April  28,  '79. 

Cha's  Debevoice,  .Tohn  Suydam, 

Flich'tl  Alsop,  Wm.  Van  Dyne, 

Tho's  Betts,  Meneus  Van  Dyne, 

John  Way,  Ja's  Marr, 

George  Rapalje,  Dow  Van  Dyne, 

John  Rapalje,  Ort  Van  Dyne, 

Bernardus  Rapalje,         Sam'l  Waldron, 
Tho's  Woodward,  W.  McKean, 

Mordecai  Lester,  Bernardus  Bloom, 

Jacob  Lester,  Josejjh  Ford, 

Simon  Flaglor,  Shnon  Bloom, 

Gilbert  Lester,  Wm.  Waynman, 

AI)'m  J.  Rapalye,  Andrew  Bay, 

Sam'l  Wain  Wright,         Ab'm  BrinckerhofT', 
Rich"d  Morrell,  .leronemus' Rapalje, 

Gilbert  Ketchum,  Tho's  Lawrence, 

Ja's  Morrell,  Oliver  Waters, 

Tho's  Hunt,  Joseph  Burroughs, 

Ja's  Bonncy,  Wm.  Bailey, 

Alex.  Roxburgh,  Jona.  W.  Furman, 

Rob't  Boyle,  Jacob  Cosine, 

John  T.  Waters,  Jacobus  Ricker, 

Nath.  Hunt,  Nath'l  Moore, 

Jona.  Morrell,  Cor's  Rapalje, 

Ab'm  Morrell,  Sr.  Nath'l  Moore,  Jr. 

Ab'm  Morrell,  Jr.  .facob  Lent, 

Jos.  Denton,  Garret  Leighster, 

Jeromus  Rem.scn,  Ab'm  Lent, 


John  Shoals, 
John  Moore,  Jr. 
James  Moore, 
Sam'l  Moore,  Sr. 
David  Titus, 
Jacob  Moore, 
Sam'l  Moore,  .3d. 
Hend'k  BrinckerhofT, 
George  BrinckerhofT, 
Dan'l  Rapalje, 
Martin  Rtipa'je, 
Josejjh  Lawrence, 
John  Moore, 
David  Moore, 
Benj.  Corniph, 
Sam'l  Moore,  Jr. 
John  Leverich, 
Sam'l  Leverich, 
Jacob  Palmer, 
Dan'l  Rapalje, 
John  Curtis, 
Wm.  Sackett, 
Nath'l  Woodward, 
John  Morrell, 
George  BrinckerhofT, 
John  Bragaw, 
Andrew  Bragaw, 
Geo.  BrinckerhofT,  Jr. 


136  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

Ab'm  Polhemus,         ^    Jeremiah  Remsen,  Dan'l  Leighster, 

Ab'm  Polhemus,  Jr.        James  Harper,  Ab'm  Benham, 

Geo.  Debevoice,  Rob't  Dixon,  Ja's  Way. — 93. 

Col.  S.  replies,  May  1,  from  on  board  the  Nestor,  trans- 
port. 

*  Holt,  March  1,  '79.     Thursday  last,  Elizabethtown  was  attacked 
by  1000  men  from  Long  Island,  part  of  the  42d  and  33d  regiments,  com 
manded  by  Lt.  Col.  Sterling.     [They  marched  through   Newark  Mead- 
ows to  their  middle  in  the  mud. — Ed.] 

140.  Bit'.,  July  16,  '79.  Deserted,  from  the  horse  depart- 
ment of  the  Royal  artillery,  from  his  command  at  Newtown, 
Richard  Van  Hausen,  believed  to  have  gone  on  board  some 
privateer,  or  concealed  for  that  purpose. 

141.  July  3,  '79,  Blv.  On  Tuesday  last,  a  party  of  refu- 
gees from  Long  Island  crossed  to  West  Chester,  and  brought  off, 
with  the  assistance  of  the  guard  ship  below  City  Island,  50  milch 
cows,  12  or  14  horses,  and  150  sheep,  which  they  drove  to  Ja- 
maica Plains.     None  of  the  party  received  any  injury.* 

[*  One  morning,  as  the  owner  of  a  fine  meadow  arose,  she  found  15 
horses  turned  in  it  to  graze,  which  had  been  stolen  from  the  Main.  The 
British  also  crossed  to  the  Main  in  the  hard  winter  of  1780,  and  made 
the  farmers  bring  over  their  hay  on  the  ice  to  Long  Island. — Ed  ] 

142.  Aug.  23,  '79,  Gaine.  Grammar  school  at  Newtown. 
Thomas  Lambert  Moore  is  willing  to  perfect  a  few  young  gen- 
tlemen (in  addition  to  those  already  with  him)  in  English, 
Greek  and  Latin.  They  can  board  in  good  families  on  easy 
terms.  References  :  Lsaac  Wilkins,  Esq.,  Newtown,  and  Rev. 
Mr.  Moore,  New- York. 

143.  Sept.  5,  '79,  Gaine.  $8  reward  and  no  questions  asked. 
Stolen  or  strayed,  Aug.  12,  out  of  Gen.  [?]  Grant's  pasture, 
Fresh  Ponds,  a  beaver  colored  horse,  the  property  of  Captain 
Grey,  of  the  King's  American  regiment,  [or  Fanning's  corps.] 

AB'M  RAPALJE,  Buslivvick, 
AB'M  RAPALJE,  Newtown. 

144.  May  20,  '80,  liiv.  Two  guineas  reward.  Stolen  or 
strayed  from  the  light  infantry  camp,  Hellgate,  a  brown  mare, 
nag  tail,  &c. 

Capt.  COOTE,  37th  Light  Company. 


NEWTOWN.  137 

145.  Sept.  13,  '80,  Riv.  Deserted  from  the  horse  depart- 
ment of  the  Royal  artillery,  from  the  Newtown  district,  D. 
McCarty  ;  had  on  a  blue  jacket  with  red  collar,  round  hat,  &c. 

146.  Dec.  14,  '80,  Riv.  The  Hussar  frigate  was  lately  lost 
in  Hellgate,  and  several  of  her  crew  drowned.  Salvage  paid 
for  stores  saved. 

[She  run  on  the  Pot  Rock,  and  was  supposed  to  have  on  board  pay 
for  the  British  army.  Some  years  ago  fruitless  efforts  were  made  to  fish 
up  the  lost  treasure. — Ed.] 

147.  March  10,  '81,  Riv.  One  Strickland,  of  Newtown, 
Long  Island,  an  artificer,  following  the  rebel  army,  was  taken 
up  at  Bergen  Point  and  put  in  the  Provost,  charged  with  being 
a  spy,  and  the  one  appointed  to  murder  Andre. 

148.  April  9,  '81,  Gains.  A  Negro  man  to  be  sold  at  public 
vendue,  by  Tho's  Brooke,  at  Newtown ;  also,  2  Negro  boys : 
one  10,  and  the  other  12  years  old. 

149.  June  10,  '81,  Gaine.  Two  rebel  whaleboats,  com- 
manded by  Blacker  and  Jones,  appeared  off  Baron,  formerly 
Bahana's  Island,  but  on  seeing  a  signal  of  their  appearance 
made  to  Mr.  Dun,  of  the  garrison  battalion  on  Long  Island,  they 
thought  proper  to  steer  off. 

The  guards*  and  Royal  refugees,  Henry  Fowler,  John  Un- 
derbill, Moses  Miller,  and  Gabriel  Lynch,  who  turned  out,  be- 
gan a  fire,  and  R.  Cunningham,  Inspector,  Baron  Island,  sa- 
luted them  with  two  swivels. 

A  Serjeant  and  six  privates  belonging  to  Col.  Linsing's  re- 
giment  of  grenadiers,  and  the  refugees  on  Baron  Island,  have 
Mr.  Cunningham's  thanks  for  their  alertness  on  the  above  oc- 
casion. 

[*  Guards  were  also  kept  at  Col.  Lawrence's  Point  and  Bowery  Bay. 
The  sentinels  were  now  and  then  picked  off  by  shot  from  the  Main. — Ed.'\ 

150.  Riv.^  Sept.  5,  '81.  $5  reward.  Run  away  from  Capt. 
Charles  Grant,  of  42d  or  Royal  Highland  regiment  of  foot,  at 
Newtown,  a  negro  man,  Tom.  Masters  of  vessels  and  others 
arc  forewarned  to  harbor  him. 

151.  Oct.  6,  '81,  Riv.  $2  reward.  Run  away  from  Major 
James  Grant,  of  the  King's  American  regiment,  a  negro  boy, 


138  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

Bristol,  pretty  black,  and  his  wool  short.     Masters  of  vessels 
are  forewarned  to  conceal  him. 

152.  Oct,  17,  '81,  Riv.  Lt.  W.  Barry,  of  the  Royal  Forres- 
ters, died  of  a  violent  fever.  His  remains  were  interred  at 
Hallet's  Cove,  with  the  honors  of  war. 

153.  Peter  Fitzsimmons,  merchant  in  Newtown,  has  opened 
a  tavern  at  the  house  of  widow  Betts,  at  Hallet's  Cove  ferry. 
He  also  has  the  ferry  on  the  opposite  side  at  Horn's  Hook,  and 
keeps  horse-boats,  and  small  boats  for  jjassengers,  and  is  now 
making  a  large  yard  for  horned  cattle.  Ferriage,  for  man  and 
horse,  2s.,  horse  and  chair,  4s.,  cattle.  2s.,  passengers,  Is. — Riv. 
May  8,  '82. 

154.  Newtown.,  Aug.  8,  '82.  One  guinea  reward.  Run  away 
a  negro.  Adam,  who  wore  an  officer's  old  red  coat  faced  with 
white,  and  a  gold  basket  button.  Masters  of  vessels  are  forbid 
harboring  him.  GARRET  LUYSTER. 

155.  Riv.,  Nov.  30,  '82.  Five  guineas  reward.  Run  away 
from  Wm.  Garden,  Newtown,  a  likely  young  Guinea  negro 
fellow,  Nero,  who  had  on  a  blue  frieze  shooting-jacket  (had 
four  slack  pockets)  and  an  old  flapped  hat.   . 

156.  /a/i.  8, '83, /?/r.  Two  guineas  reward.  On  Wednes- 
day evening,  Dec.  25,  a  sleigh  was  stopped  by  two  men,  sup- 
posed to  be  soldiers,  on  the  road  between  the  widow  Burtis's 
and  Dan'l  Rapalje's,  and  the  persons  in  it  robbed  of  their  money 
and  a  silver  watch. 

GEO.  RAP  ALYE,  Capt.  Q.  Co.  Militia. 

157.  Fifty  guineas  rew^ard  will  be  paid  to  any  one  who  ap- 
prehends the  thieves  who  robbed  the  house  of  Jacob  Bennet, 
at  the  entrance  of  Newtown  creek,  April  2,  by  Geo.  Hunter. 

N.  B.  One  of  them  is  already  taken  up  and  confined  in  the 
Main  Guard.*— /?/t'.  Ap.  5,  '83. 

[*  As  Jacob  Bennet,  who  lived  on  the  liill  at  Doniine's  Hook,  was 
rowing  homeward  from  market,  his  negro  observed  a  strange  boat  on  the 
shore  near  the  house,  and  said  to  his  master,  "  There  must  be  robbers  at 
our  house  ;  let's  scuttle  the  boat."  No  sooner  said  than  done.  As  they 
drew  near  the  house,  the  robbers  (who  had  already  tied  up  the  aged  fatlier, 
and  forced  him  to  show  his  money)  came  out  and  ordered  them  to  land, 
or  they  would  be  fired  on.     Disregarding  the  threat,  Bennet  put  about  for 


NEWTOWN.  ir9 

the  Bushwick  shore  and  gave  the  alarm.  The  robbers  now  fled  to  their 
boats  to  escape,  but  as  they  put  off  she  filled.  They  then  made  for  the 
meadows  and  hid  in  the  hedge  ill, 000  they  had  taken,  being  the  property 
of  B.  and  his  son-in-law,  Capt.  Hunter.  The  robbers  were  refugees. — Ed.] 

John  Meserole,  at  Green's  Point,  (a  great  churchman,  called  by  way 
of  distinction,  "  Domine  John,")  was  near  being  robbed,  &c.  The  old 
lady  sat  on  the  chest  where  the  money  was  put ;  and  before  the  robbers 
could  gather  up  their  plunder,  a  la.d  escaped,  spread  the  alarm,  and  the 
robbers  decamped. 

158.  Ap.  28,  '83.  At  vendue,  the  plantation  of  Capt.  Van- 
dyne,  of  two  hundred  acres,  at  Hempstead  Swamp,  one  mile 
south  of  Newtown,  [D.  S.  Mills']  also  stock,  farming  utensils,  &c. 

159.  June  24,  '83,  Gaine.  The  anniversary  of  St.  John 
Baptist  will  be  celebrated  at  Newtown  by  the  Friendly  Brothers 
of  St.  George,  Lodge  No.  2,  who  are  to  meet  at  Mr.  Rapalje's 
tavern,  at  10  o'clock  ;  then  proceed  in  procession  to  the  church, 
where  a  sermon  will  be  preached.  An  elegant  dinner  on  the 
table  at  4.  W.  SORREL,  Sec. 

160.  Juhj  15,  '83.  To  be  ^Id  the  farm  of  Peter  Berton,  at 
the  Queens  Head  tavern,  Newtown  Landing. 

161.  i?ii?.,  Awo-.  6, '83.  All  persons  having  demands  against 
Jacob  Russell,  gunsmith,  a  deserter  from  the  Hessian  Reg.  de 
Knoblauch,  are  desired  to  bring  them  before  the  court-martial 
in  the  Camps  near  Newtown. 

PLUMaUE,  Judge  Advocate. 
DePORBECK,  Col.  Com. 

162.  Stolen,  Wednesday  night,  Oct.  15,  '83,  from  the  widow 
of  Major  Jas.  Grant,  late  of  the  King's  Amer.  Reg.,  living  at 
Fresh  Ponds,  a  horse,  &c. — Riv. 

163.  £5  reward.  Run  away,  Kate,  born  in  the  family  of 
Jacob  Bennet,  wears  her  hair  very  high  and  straight  up,  over 
a  roll,  with  a  great  deal  of  pomatum ;  a  great  talker ;  took  a 
calico  short-gown,  with  figures  of  horses,  carriages  and  sol- 
diers in  blue  and  yellow  colors,  particularly  a  row  of  soldiers 
round  the  bottom  of  it.  and  several  caps  with  long  ears. — Riv.^ 
Nov.  '83. 

164.  Thos.  Woodward  (now  Viator's)  heard  a  noise  among 


140  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

his  fowls  in  the  trees  back  of  his  house.  He  tracked  a  fellow 
in  the  snow  and  fired  at  a  venture.  The  next  morning  a  sol- 
dier was  found  dead,  a  short  distance  from  the  house,  with  a 
fowl  in  his  bosom.  Woodward  kept  out  of  the  way  a  few  days, 
and  was  never  called  to  account, 

165.  Wm.  Furman,  at  the  head  of  the  Fly,  (now  Ab'r 
Rhoades';)  was  an  executor  of  Coe's  estate,  and  supposed  to  be 
in  possession  of  a  large  sum  of  money.  He  was  robbed  of 
$1,600  and  badly  beaten  (as  he  lay  in  bed,  where  he  was 
ordered  to  remain)  to  force  him  to  make  further  disclosures. 
When  he  ran  to  a  neighbor's  to  spread  the  alarm,  he  was 
covered  with  blood.  The  robbers  were  refugees,  and  were 
detected  at  Brooklyn  ferry  from  the  peculiarity  of  the  coin. 
Mr.  Furman  appeared  before  the  British  authorities  at  New- 
York  and  identified  some  of  tlie  pieces,  yet  none  of  the  money 
was  ever  restored.  After  the  peace  he  was  sued  by  the  heirs 
of  Coe,  and  acquitted  in  the  Court  of  Errors. 

166.  One  night,  a  little  before  the  peace,  Thos.  Cumberson 
was  awakened  by  a  knocking  atjiis  door  by  some  persons,  who 
asked  the  way  to  Hallet's  Cove.  They  then  wanted  to  come 
in  and  get  something  to  eat.  This  he  refused,  as  the  hour  was 
unseasonable.  They  affected  to  go  off  satisfied.  But,  sus- 
pecting they  might  return  again,  Cumberson  dressed  himself, 
and  stood  his  loaded  gun  by  his  bed.  In  a  short  time,  without 
notice,  his  front  door  was  forced  open  by  a  stone  as  large  as  a 
man  could  well  manage.  The  robbers  then  rushed  in  upon 
him,  and  one  cried  out,  "  Now,  you  rascal,  we've  got  you." 
He  fired  instantly  and  lodged  the  load  in  the  fellow's  abdomen, 
and  sung  out,  as  to  a  friend  present.  "  Hand  the  other  gun,  or 
fire  yourself"  Thereupon,  all  three  decamped.  The  wounded 
man  essayed  to  mount  his  horse,  but  failed.  He,  however, 
snapped  his  pistol  at  Cumberson,  who  had  followed  him  out  of 
doors,  and  was  looking  on.  Finally  he  begged  to  be  led  into 
the  house.  C.  told  him  he  had  been  in  once.  "  Yes,  to  my 
sorrow,"  said  the  w^ounded  man,  throwing  down  his  pistol  and 
falling  on  the  ground.  He  at  first  refused  to  give  up  the  names 
of  his  associates  ;  but  on  being  told  by  the  British  surgeon  that 
he  had  but  a  short  time  to  live,  he  confessed  all.     His  name 


FLUSHING.  141 

was  Michael  Hogans.  Three  of  them  had  deserted  from  the 
British  camp  at  Flatbush  and  come  over  to  the  EngHsh  Kills, 
where  they  broke  open  the  King's  stables  and  stole  three  wa- 
goner's horses.  His  two  accomplices,  Docharty  and  Lyons,  rode 
off  to  Hallet's  Cove,  where  stealing  a  boat,  they  crossed  the 
river,  and  were  never  heard  of  afterwards.  The  wounded 
man  died  eight  hours  after  in  great  agony,  and  was  sewed  up 
in  a  blanket  of  Mrs.  C.'s,  and  buried  in  the  woods  east  of  the 
house. 

167.  Cor.  Rapalje,  who  lived  on  the  cross-roads  from  Dutch 
Kills  to  the  Bowery,  (since  Purdy's,)  heard  a  noise  among  his 
cattle.  He  took  a  gun  and  his  negro  a  hatchet,  and  killed  a 
soldier. 

H.  Furman  had  a  heifer  stolen,  and  found  her  fifty  yards 
off,  her  hind  quarters  cut  out.  the  rest  left.  Aaron,  his  son,  lost 
some  ducks,  but  on  complaining  and  pointing  out  the  thief,  he 
was  punished.  Robbers  could  be  told  by  marks  on  their  but- 
tons or  caps. 

J.  Remsen,  one  and  a  half  miles  south  of  Newtown,  hearing 
some  soldiers  in  his  cow-yard,  fired  and  put  shot  into  three  of 
them. 

Wm.  Howard  had  his  cows  penned  up  before  his  house,  bars 
wedged,  front  door  open,  and  a  person  sitting  up  all  night  to 
watch,  yet  they  were  stolen.  A  by-word  among  the  British 
was,  "  You  are  punished,  not  for  stealing,  but  for  being  found 
out."  Corn  and  potatoes  (when  soldiers  lay  near)  were  often 
watched  at  night.  Potatoes  sometimes  sold  at  18s.  and  half  a 
guinea  per  bushel ;  butter,  8  and  10s.  per  lb. ;  beef.  Is.  6d. ; 
turkeys,  half  a  guinea  a  piece.  Much  provision  (such  as  flour, 
pease,  butter,  oats,  meat)  came  from  England  and  Ireland. 

FLUSHING. 

168.  Friends'  meeting-house  was  used  successively  as  a 
prison,  hospital,  and  hay  magazine.  When  the  British  officer 
first  went  to  take  possession.  Friends  were  in  silent  meeting. 
He  put  his  head  in  the  door,  but  seeing  them  sit  so  quiet  and 
demure,  he  withdrew  till  shaking  hands  was  over.     During 

7* 


142  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

the  rest  of  the  war,  Friends  met  in  barns  and  private  houses. 
West  of  the  meeting-house  was  a  hospital,  where  the  small- 
pox raged  dreadfully.  South  was  the  parade.  No  fences 
were  to  be  seen  :  all  had  been  torn  dow*n  for  fuel.  The  guard- 
house knocked  up  for  the  purpose,  was  west  of  Aspinwall's, 
now  Dr.  Bloodgood's.  •'.  When  the  British  first  entered  Flush- 
ing, they  set  a  guard  over  Prince's  nursery.*  But  as  there 
was  no  sale  for  trees,  fine  cherry  trees  were  cut  down  for  hoop- 
poles.  The  trees  grew  to  a  large  size,  and  the  nursery  was 
much  neglected."' 

On  the  high  ground,  where  the  old  Methodist  meeting-house 
now  stands,  was  the  alarm-pole.  This  was  wound  round  with 
straw  (so  as  to  be  easily  fired)  and  surmounted  with  a  tar- 
barrel,  and  was  one  of  a  series  of  beacons  to  transmit  the  alarm 
to  Jamaica,  where  most  of  the  British  troops  lay,  in  case  the 
Americans  or  their  French  allies  should  land  on  Long  Island. 

For  sport,  the  officers  would  play  at  fives  against  the  side 
of  the  meeting-house.  ''A  long  and  moderate  war,"  was  their 
standing  toast.  The  common  soldiers  would  roll  an  eighteen 
or  twenty-four  pound  ball  in  nine  holes ;  or  tied  up  in  a  sack, 
the  head  only  visible,  a  half-dozen  would  run  for  a  wager. 
Others  would  find  more  congenial  amusement  in  a  trial  at 
making  wry  faces,  the  prize  being  a  quantity  of  tobacco.  A 
still  lower  order  of  amusement  was,  soaping  a  pig's  tail,  the 
pig  being  the  property  of  the  lucky  fellow  that  could  hold  him 
thereby. 

The  punishments  Avere  "picketing"  for  the  horsemen. 
A  pointed  stake  was  driven  into  the  ground.  On  this  the  of- 
fender stood  barefoot,  with  one  hand  tied  at  arm's  length  to  a 
tree  overhead,  the  other  hand  and  foot  bound  together.  Others 
run  the  gauntlet  between  two  rows  of  soldiers,  each  having  a 
birch  whip,  or  were  paid  oflf  with  the  cat. 

*  Thompson,  II.  85. 

169.  Feb.  17,  '77,  aaine.  Sutler  wanted  for  his  Ex.  Gov. 
Brown's  corps,  who  understands  his  business.  Very  great  en- 
couragement will  be  given  on  fipplying  to  the  quarter  master 
at  Flushing. 

170.  Maj\  3,  '77,  Gaine.     The  Royal  and  Hon.  Brigade  ot 


FLUSHING.  143 

the  Prince  of  Wales's  Loyal  Amer.  Volunteers  quartered  at 
the  famous  and  plentiful  town  of  Flushing.  Recruits  taken 
also  at  Wm.  Betts',  sign  of  the  Gen.  Amherst,  Jamaica.  £5 
bounty  and  100  acres  of  land  on  the  Mississippi,  for  3  years, 
or  during  the  rebellion.  Present  pay  and  free  quarters.  Cloth- 
ing, arms  and  accoutrements  supplied.  Bringers  will  receive 
$2.     God  save  the  King  ! 

[Twenty  in  a  drove  would  come  from  New  England  to  enlist 
in  Brown's  corps. — Ed.'] 

171.  Sept.  29,  '77,  Holt.  Two  men  detected  in  transporting 
tories  [recruits?]  from  Killingworth  to  Long  Island,  near 
Flushing,  were  sent  to  jail  to  New  London. 

172.  Stolen  from  Isaac  Underhill.  of  Flushing,  a  sorrel 
horse,  &c.,  Oct.  29,  '77. 

173.  Jan.  26,  '78,  Gaine.  Married  at  Flushhig,  Beverly 
Robinson,  Jr.,  Esq.,  Lt.  Col.  of  the  Loyal  Amer.  Reg.,  to  the 
amiable  and  accomplished  Miss  Nancy  Barclay. 

174.  Sutler  wanted  for  the  1st  Bat.  of  Gen.  Delancey's 
Brigade,  who  is  capable  of  furnishing  a  large  mess.  Apply 
to  the  gentlemen  of  the  Reg.,  at  the  Camp,  head  of  Flushing 
Fly.—Riv.,  Jan.  17,  '78. 

175.  Aj^g.  10,  '78.  Holt.  Fishkill,  Aug.  6.  A  gentleman 
who  left  Flushing  last  Lord's  Day,  says  there  were  12,000 
about  New-York.  Bread  was  very  scarce,  pease  and  oat- 
meal being  served  out  instead.  Commissary's  rations  en- 
tirely stopped.  Soldiers'  wives*  allowed  quarter  instead  of 
half  rations.  Two  vessels  from  Cork  brought  1,000  barrels 
provisions.  The  Long  Island  people  were  selling  off  their 
small  cattle  and  poultry,  as  they  were  daily  robbed  of  them  by 
the  soldiery.  Our  friends  on  the  island,  since  the  battle  of 
Monmouth,  are  in  high  spirits,  and  the  formerly  active  tories 
now  begin  to  hang  their  heads  and  cry  peccavi. 

[*  A  certain  number  of  soldiers  in  each  regiment  was  allowed  to 
bring  their  wives  with  them,  called  "  washerwomen," — often  common 
prostitutes. — Ed.] 

176.  Sep.  5,'78.  Hie.  Stolen,  strayed,  or  driven  away  by  mis- 
lake  with  the  army,  from  the  head  of  the  Fly,  Aug.  27.  a  mouse- 


144  'armed  occupation. 

colored  mare,  with  hog  mane  and  bush  tail ;  also  a  red  cow, 
the  property  of  Capt.  Darby,  17th  Reg.  of  Foot.  Whoever 
will  give  information  of  the  above  at  the  Head  Inn,  Jamaica, 
or  widow  Waters,  head  of  the  Fly,  shall  be  handsomely  re- 
warded. 

177.  Sep.  23,  '78,  Biv.  Four  guineas  reward,  and  no  ques- 
tions. A  cow  was  stolen,  Aug.  27,  from  the  place  of  embark- 
ation at  White  Stone,  belonging  to  the  64th  Reg.,  now  at  Bed- 
ford camp. 

178.  Oct.  10,  '78,  Biv.  Strayed,  from  the  encampment  of 
Maryland  Loyalists*  at  Yellow  Hook,  July  20,  a  very  likely 
roan  mare.  Any  person  bringing  her  to  the  Reg.,  now  lying 
at  the  head  of  Flushing  Fly.  will  receive  two  guineas  reward. 

[*  Wrecked  in  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  on  their  voyage  to  Nova  Scotia, 
Oct. '83,  and  many  lives  lost. — Ed.] 

179.  Oct.  31.  '78,  Biv.  Stolen  or  strayed,  a  bay  mare, 
branded  G.  under  the  mane.  Whoever  will  deliver  her  to 
Obadiah  Leech,  at  D.  Bowne's,  Pigeon  Meadow,  three  and  a 
half  miles  east  of  Flushing,  shall  have  $4  reward. 

180.  July  3,  '79,  Biv.  Edmund  Fanning,  Col.  of  the  Asso- 
ciated Refugees,  on  board  the  Diana  transport  at  Whitestone, 
received  a  letter  from  Edward  Winslow,  Lt.  Col.  Commandant 
of  the  Associated  Refugees  on  board  the  Royal*  Charlotte, 
Huntington  Harbor,  that  '•  he  w^ith  Col.  Upham  had  attacked 
Norwalk,  and  stretched  along  Connecticut  shore,  occasioning 
new  troubles  to  our  enemies." 

181.  July  14,  '79,  Biv.  Five  guineas  reward.  Stolen,  last 
Friday,  from  near  the  house  at  the  Avest  side  of  the  Watering 
Place  at  Whitestone,  a  MARCiUEE,  marked  Col.  McLean's 
Reg.  [82d.] 

182.  Jan.  5,  '80,  Bit'.  On  Christmas  eve,  the  house  of  Col. 
Hamilton  [since  H.  Mitchell's]  at  Flushing,  was  burnt  to  the 
ground  with  every  thing  therein — elegant  furniture,  stock  of 
provisions,  various  sorts  of  wines,  spirits  intended  for  the  regale 
of  his  numerous  Iriends.  the  military  and  other  gentlemen  of  the 
neighborliood,  at  this  convivial  season.  A  cask  of  cartridges 
and  some  gunpowder  for  the  militia,  were  in  the  garret,  which 
prevented  the  exertions  that  would  otherwise  have  been  made. 


FLUSHING.  145 

183.  Jan.  17,  '80,  Riv.  Died  of  consumption,  aged  23,  in 
Mr.Vanderbelt's  house,*  Flushing,  the  Hon.  Mrs.  Napier,  lady 
of  the  Hon.  Capt.  N.,  80th  Grenadiers,  now  on  the  expedition. 
Her  remains  were  deposited  in  the  Golden  vault,  Spring  Hill, 
[now  Judge  Strong's,]  attended  "by  the  officers  of  the  22d,  38th 
and  80th  Reg's.  Her  two  daughters  are  under  the  care  of 
Gol.  A.  Hamilton. 

[*  In  1789,  the  house  of  John  Vanderbelt,  with  the  records  of  the  town 
of  Flushing,  were  burnt.     The  incendiary,  a  black  girl,  was  hung. — Bd.\ 

184.  Mar.  1,  '80.  The  Grand  Duke  was  a  guard  ship  at 
City  Island  a  fortnight  ago. —  Con.  Gaz. 

185.  June  10,  '80,  Riv.  £6  reward.  Stolen,  May  26,  a  sor- 
rel mare,  &c.,  out  of  the  pasture  of  Edmund  Pinfold. 

186.  July  19,  '80.  Simcoe  crossed  the  Sound  to  Flushing, 
on  his  way  to  Huntington. — {See  205.) 

187.  Strayed  from  the  camp  of  the  guards  at  White  Stone, 
Aug.  16,  '80,  an  iron-grey  gelding.     Game,  Avg.  28. 

188.  Aug.  18,  '80.  Con.  Gaz.  There  are  9.000  troops  at 
White  Stone  and  Westch'ester. 

189.  Sept.  15,  '80.  Con.  Gaz.  By  a  gentleman  from 
Long  Island  we  are  informed  the  main  army  of  the  British  lay 
at  Flushing,  from  White  Stone  to  Jamaica,  two  regiments  of 
Hessians  at  Jamaica,  and  the  light  infantry  at  Huntington  : 
provisions  very  scarce,  especially  salt,  and  it  was  very  sickly. 

193.  Riv.^  Oct.  11,  '80.  Five  guineas  reward.  Stolen  or 
strayed.  Oct.  5,  from  the  farm  of  Daniel  Bowne,  now  occupied 
by  Col.  Isaac  Corsa,*  a  light  bay  gelding,  dec. 

*Col.  Corsa  essentially  contributed  to  the  capture  of  Fort  Frontenac, 
now  Kingston,  Aug  27,  1758.  He  volunteered  with  his  Long  Island 
men  to  erect  a  battery  on  the  night  of  Aug.  26,  in  the  midst  of  the  ene- 
my's fire,  which  opening  in  the  morning,  cannonaded  the  fort  and  pro- 
duced the  surrender.     The  Col.  received  a  slight  wound. 

In  the  first  detachment  of  440  men  was  Capt.  Daniel  Wright,  of 
Queens. 

In  the  second  detachment,  of  668  men,  was  "  Li^^ut.  Col.  Isaac  Corsa, 
of  Queens,  Maj.  Nathaniel  Woodhull,  of  Suffolk,  and  Capt.  Richard 
Hewlett,  of  Queens."  Why  has  not  justice  been  done  to  the  services 
rendered  by  Queens  county  in  the  old  French  war  ? — Ed. 


146  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

191.  Nov.  27,  '80.  Gaine.  To  be  sold,  a  healthy  negro  man 
and  woman,  neither  in  the  least  infatuated  with  a  desire  of 
obtaining  freedom  by  flight,  which  so  unhappily  reigns  through- 
out the  generaHty  of  slaves  at  present. 

David  Golden,  Esq.,  Flushing. 

192.  Feb.  3,  '81,  Riv.  Stolen,  strayed,  or  taken  up  by  an 
impress  warrant,  when  the  troops  moved  from  Flushing,  a  bay 
mare,  &c.  Whoever  brings  her  to  John  Rodman's  house, 
Bay  Side,  shall  have  $2  reward  from  John  Thurman. 

193.  March  20,  '81.  Three  companies  of  regular  troops 
on  Long  Island.    The  forts  on  the  north  garrisoned  by  militia.* 

*  There  was  a  small  fort  at  White  Stone,  east  of  the  creek,  at  Bo- 
eart's  Point,  on  a  steep  bank.  Boats  were  overhauled  here.  The  militia 
from  Jamaica  went  over  in  squads  of  six  or  eight,  and  stood  guard  a 
fortnight  or  so,  when  they  were  relieved  by  others.  The  sentries  suffered 
from  the  cold,  as  no  fire  was  allowed  in  the  fort,  on  account  of  the  pow- 
der stored  there.  After  the  officer  had  gone  the  rounds,  the  sentinels 
would  sometimes  quit  their  post  and  repair  to  a  neighboring  tavern. 
Stephen  Higbie,  sergeant,  went  with  a  guard  to  White  Stone.  He  had 
left  his  post  to  warm  and  smoke  in  the  tavern,  when  Col.  Hamilton  sud- 
denly came  in,  and  knocking  the  pipe  out  of  Higbie's  mouth,  and  point- 
ing a  pistol  at  his  breast,  cried  out,  "  Are  you  a  d — d  old  Presbyterian  or 
not]"  '■  No."  "  'Tis  well  you  said  no,  or  I'd  a  blown  your  brains  out. 
Now  I've  some  hopes  of  you." — Ed. 

194.  April  9,  '81,  Gaine.  A  few  nights  ago  some  whale 
boats  from  New  Rochelle  came  over  to  Flushing  Bayside  and 
plundered  several  houses :  among  the  rest,  that  of  Mr.  John 
Thurman,  merchant  of  this  city. 

195.  A.  Hamilton,  Col.  Commandant  of  Queens  county 
militia,  and  Aid-dc-Camp  to  his  Excellency  Gen.  Robertson, 
in  tlie  name  of  the  gentleman,  the  farmer,  and  of  every  indi- 
vidual of  Flushing,  thanks  Lieut.  Col.  Loewenstein,  of  the  3d 
battalion  Hessian  Grenadiers,  for  the  protection  of  their  pro- 
perty; and  wish  the  corps  every  success,  honor  and  happiness. 

Inner  wick,  April  29,  1781. 

19G.  May  21,  '81.  J.  Holroyd  tliaiik.s  tlic  gentlemen  ot" 
the  army  and  navy,  and  informs  llicni  that  he  lui^  ojjcned  the 
(iueen's  Head,  at  Flushing. 


FLUSHING.  147 

197.  June  20,  '81,  Riv.  Thomas  Hicks  [Little  Neck]  a 
fortnight  ago  was  robbed  of  law  books,  and  very  considerable 
property :  and  several  whale  boats  were  lately  in  Flushing 
Bay. 

198.  July  23.  '81.  Washington  went  on  Frog's  Neck  to 
see  what  communication  could  be  had  with  Long  Island.  The 
engineers  attended  with  their  instruments,  to  measure  the  dis- 
tance across.  A  few  harmless  shot  were  fired  [from  the  fort 
at  White  Stone?] — Sparks,  viii,  112. 

199.  Aug.  13. '81.  Gaine.  Thursday  night  eight  rebel  whale 
boats  made  their  appearance  at  Bayside,  and  some  of  them 
landed  a  few  men.  But  as  they  did  not  like  the  appearance  of 
things,  the  country  being  very  soon  alarmed,  they  did  no  harm, 
speedily  re-embarked  and  made  the  best  of  their  way  to  the 
rebel  shore.  They  carried  off  nothing,  and  said  they  only 
wanted  a  few  prisoners. 

200.  April  20,  '82,  Riv.  150  guineas  reward.  On  the  night  of 
Ap'l  11a  most  wicked  and  flagitious  murder  was  committed  at 
the  widow  Talman's  house,  at  the  mill,  four  miles  east  of  Flush- 
ing, [now  J.  P.  Carll's.]  by  several  people  armed  with  pistols 
and  bludgeons,  and  their  faces  blacked,  on  James  Hedger. 
Wearing  apparel  in  large  quantities,  £200  in  specie,  and  silver 
plate,  were  carried  oft'.  Any  accomphce  except  the  one  who 
fired  the  shot  that  slew  the  innocent,  will  be  pardoned  (if  he 
give  evidence)  and  receive  100  guineas  reward  from  A.  Ham- 
ilton. Col.  Commandant  of  Queens  county,  at  Innerwick. 

Whoever  will  discover  any  part  of  the  goods  in  the  posses- 
sion of  any  person,  shall  receive  50  guineas,  and  the  informer's 
name  concealed,  if  desired.* 

*  Hedger,  a  miller  and  sportsman,  was  twice  engaged  with  robbers. 
The  first  time,  he  heard  a  noise  and  found  two  men  choking  his  sister. 
They  left  her  and  fell  foul  of  him,  beating  him  on  the  head  with  their 
pistols.  He  disengaged  himself  and  ran  in  a  back  room  for  his  gun. 
Thinking  he  meant  to  escape,  they  ran  around  to  the  back  door;  but 
Hedger  was  too  bold  for  that.  He  stood  ready  with  his  gun,  and  as  they 
returned  and  were  entering  the  front  door  he  fired — it  was  moonlight. 
The  foremost  was  wounded  in  the  throat,  and  fell  dead  in  the  doorway. 
The  other  ran  off,  having  his  face  spotted  with  shot,  and  left  their  horses 


148  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

in  an  adjoining  swamp,  where  they  were  discovered  three  days  after, 
tied  to  a  tree.  He  was  subsequently  detected  at  Southhold,  and  received 
one  thousand  lashes,  save  one.  The  body  of  the  dead  man  (Silby,  of  the 
60th  regiment,  others  say  one  of  the  17th  dragoons)  was  hung  in  an 
iron  frame  on  a  gibbet,  on  the  Plains  north  of  Hempstead,  and  his  regi- 
ment paraded  before  it.  The  creaking  of  the  iron,  as  it  swung  to  and 
fro  by  the  wind,  would  often  alarm  the  nightly  traveller. 

The  second  time,  April  11,  1782,  Hedger  heard  a  noise  and  opened 
the  door  to  call  his  dog,  but  as  he  was  shutting  it  the  robbers  fired  and 
lodged  a  ball  in  his  body.  He  ran  for  his  gun,  but  dropped  dead  in  the 
middle  of  the  room.  Nothing  was  heard  of  the  robbers  for  some  time, 
when  a  soldier,  Perrot,  being  under  guard  for  some  offence,  expressed  an 
anxious  desire  to  have  a  few  words  with  his  commanding  officer.  He 
then  made  a  full  disclosure  of  the  robbery  and  murder.  His  five  accom- 
plices suspecting  what  was  going  on,  fled  instantly  ;  but  three  of  them 
were  detected  at  Lloyd's  Neck.  They  were  grenadiers  of  the  38th  and 
54th  regiments,  then  lying  at  Flushing,  and  were  brought  in  irons  to  the 
camp,  on  Charles  Cornell's  land,  Flushing,  so  fatigued  with  the  heat  and 
journey  that  their  tongues  lolled  out  as  they  lay  down,  while  their  con- 
ductor went  for  a  pail  of  grog.  They  were  tried  at  Bedford,  whither  the 
regiments  had  removed,  and  two,  Tench  and  Porter,  hung  on  a  chesnut 
tree  on  land  late  of  Francis  Skillman.  Cunningham  and  his  mulatto 
were  the  executioners.  The  criminals,  dressed  in  white,  mounted  a 
ladder,  and  so  both  swung  off  on  one  branch. — Ed. 

201.  May  1,  '82.  Riv.  Address  presented  to  Lieut.  Col.  A. 
Bruce,  of  the  5ith  regiment,  commanding  the  38th  and  5ith 
in  their  winter  quarters,  at  Flushing. 

Impelled  by  a  recollection  of  the  quiet  and  security  we  have 
enjoyed  during  your  residence  in  this  town,  permit  us  to  make 
a  public  acknowledgment  of  your  vigilant  attention,  and  of  the 
honor  and  politeness  of  your  officers  ;  and  of  the  orderly  and 
decent  behavior  of  the  soldiers  of  the  38th  and  54th  regiment, 
under  your  command  in  this  district. 

When  we  declare,  sir,  that  throughout  the  winter  no  occa- 
eion  has  been  given  for  murmuring  or  coinj)laints ;  that  an 
exemplary  conformity  to  orders  and  regulations  lias  been 
observed  both  by  officers  and  soldiers,  we  testify  a  fact  that  has 
given  us  the  most  lively  impression  of  the  honor  of  the  regi- 


FLUSHING.  149 

ment,  and  of  your  attention  to  the  interests  of  government  and 

his  Majesty's  service. 

Signed  by  forty-seven   respectable    inhabitants  of  Flushing, 

April  27.* 

*  Lieut.  Col.  Bruce  replies,  April  30,  from  his  quarters  at  Bedford, 
thai  he  has  merely  fulfilled  the  wish  of  his  sovereign  and  the  orders  of 
his  commander-in-chief. — Ed. 

202.  July  3,  '82.  Riv.  Five  guineas  reward.  A  grey 
mare  stolen  or  strayed  from  the  grenadier  camp,  on  Ireland 
Heights,  near  Flushing.     1st  battalion  British  grenadiers. 

203.  Aug.  7.  '82.  Riv.  Presentation  of  colors.  Thursday, 
Aug.  1,  to  the  King's  Am.  Dragoons,  under  Col.  Benj.  Thomp- 
son, [afterwards  Count  Rumford,  see  Thompson  i.,  478,]  at 
camp,  about  three  miles  east  of  Flushing,  [on  land  of  A.  Fish, 
now  James  Lawrence,]  consisting  of  four  complete  troops 
mounted,  and  two  dismounted.  The  regiment  was  formed  on 
advantageous  ground  in  front  of  the  encampment,  having  a 
gentle  declivity  to  the  south,  with  two  pieces  of  light  artillery 
on  the  right.  About  sixty  yards  in  front  of  the  regiment  was 
a  canopy  twenty  feet  high,  supported  by  ten  pillars.  East  of 
which  was  a  semicircular  bower  for  the  accommodation  of 
spectators.     The  standards  were  planted  under  the  canopy. 

At  one  o'clock  the  Prince.*  with  Admiral  Digby,  Gen. 
Birch,  Hon.  Lieut.  Col.  Fox,  of  SSth,  and  Lieut.  Col.  Small, 
of  84th,  and  other  officers  of  distinction,  came  on  the  ground 
and  received  the  usual  salutes,  (the  trumpets  sounding  and 
the  music  playing  '•  God  save  the  King,")  and  posted  them- 
selves in  the  canopy.  The  regiment  passed  in  review  before 
the  Prince,  performing  marching  salutes.  They  then  returned, 
dismounted  and  formed  in  a  semicircle  ih  front  of  the  canopy. 
Their  chaplain,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Odell.  delivered  an  appropriate 
address.  After  which  the  whole  regiment,  officers  and  men, 
kneeled  and  laid  their  helmets  and  arms  on  the  ground,  held 
up  their  right  hands,  and  took  a  most  solemn  oath  of  allegiance 
to  their  sovereign  and  fidelity  to  their  standard,  the  whole  re- 
peating the  oath  together.  The  chaplain  then  pronounced  a 
solemn  benediction.  The  regiment  rose  and  returned  to  their 
ground  and  fired  a  royal  salute.     They    then    mounted    and 


150  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

saluted  the  standard  together.  As  soon  as  the  consecrating 
and  saluting  the  standard  was  over,  the  Prince  came  forward 
to  the  centre  of  the  regiment,  received  the  colors  from  Admiral 
Digby,  and  presented  them  with  his  own  hand  to  Lieut.  Col. 
Thompson,  who  delivered  them  to  the  eldest  cornets.  On  a 
given  signal,  the  whole  regiment,  with  all  the  numerous  spec- 
tators, gave  three  shouts,  the  music  played  '*  God  save  the 
King,"  the  artillery  fired  a  royal  salute,  and  the  ceremony  was 
ended.! 

*  His  Royal  Highness,  Prince  William  Henry,  their  Majesties'  third 
son,  aged  18,  since  King  Wm.  IV.,  entered  on  board  the  Prince  George, 
under  Admiral  Digby,  in  order  to  qualify  himself  to  rank  in  the  Royal 
Navy.     He  also  visited  Lloyd's  Neck. — Ed. 

t  On  this  occasion  an  ox  was  roasted  whole.  He  was  spitted  on  a 
hickory  t?apling,  twelve  feet  long,  supported  on  crotches,  and  turned  by 
handspikes.  An  attendant  dipped  a  swab  in  a  tub  of  salt  and  water  to 
baste  the  ox  and  moderate  the  fire.  Each  soldier  then  sliced  off  for  him- 
self a  piece  of  the  ill-cooked  beef — Ed. 

204.  Some  of  Fanning's  men  got  in  the  house  of  Willet 
Bowne  and  tied  him  with  a  bedcord  to  the  bedpost,  and  then 
held  a  candle  under  the  ends  of  his  fingers,  to  torture  him  into 
a  disclosure  where  his  money  was  hid;  but  he  continued 
inflexible. 

205.  Wm.  Glean,  on  the  east  road  from  Jamaica  to  Flushing, 
(now  W.  H.  Woolley's,)  had  eight  or  ten  cattle  stolen  one 
winter.  One  night  his  safeguard  heard  a  noise,  and  firing  at  a 
venture,  killed  a  Hessian. 

The  house  of  B.  Areson,  at  Fresh  Meadows,  was  robbed. 
One  of  Simcoe's  men  came  there  by  day  and  asked  for  cider, 
and  while  the  old  gcmtleman  went  to  draw  it,  he  surveyed  the 
premises,  stole  $10  from  a  cupboard,  and  returning  at  night, 
he  carried  off  eiiects  to  the  value  of  $100.  They  beat  Mr.  A. 
severely,  led  B.  Nostrand  and  his  father  out  by  the  well  and 
held  them  there  till  the  house  was  rifled,  when  they  thrust  them 
in  and  shut  the  door.  Throe  of  the  soldiers  returning  for  some 
booty  they  had  concealed  in  the  woods,  were  discovered,  and 
complaint  was  made  to  Col.  Simroe.  but  no  satisfaction  ob- 
tained. 


JAMAICA.  151 

B.  Areson  had  a  new  house,  not  yet  finished.  It  and  his 
barn  were  torn  down  by  the  Jag-ers  for  barracks,  who  lay  one 
winter  at  Frame's.  The  Hessians  also  lay  at  Bowne's,  and 
had  huts  back  of  W.  Lawrence's,  now  S.  Pierson's.  They 
would  give  the  driver  of  an  impressed  w^agon-  a  dram  or 
''  schnapps,"  and  a  crust  of  bread  to  eat  with  it.  The  Hessians 
"  were  inveterate  smokers  and  coffee  drinkers. 

There  were  soldiers  billeted  along  the  Black  Stump  road. 
Ryerson's  Jnn  was  a  famous  stopping-place  for  the  soldiers 
quartered  on  Long  Island  when  going  or  returning  from  their 
expeditions. 

206.  Feb.  7,  83,  Riv.  Bob.  a  negro,  was  put  in  the  Provost 
for  assaulting  Mr.  Jackson,  of  Delancey's  3d  Bat,  at  Flushing.* 

*  May,  '83,  Col,  Robinson's  corps  was  at  the  Fly. — Ed. 

207.  For  sale  a  black  stallion,  to  be  seen  at  the  quarters  of 
Capt  Millet,  34th  Reg.,  at  Flushing.— /?ir.,  June  7,  '83. 

208.  June  25,  '83,  Riv.  All  persons  are  forewarned  to 
trust  my  wife  Mary,  now  living  at  Bedford,  West  Chester 
county.  STEPHEN  SMITH, 

Sergeant  in  the  King^s  Amer.  Reg.,  head  of  Flu.shirrg  Fly. 

209.  Riv.,  July  3.  '83.  $8  reward.  Stolen  or  strayed  from 
the  pasture  of  widow  j^uydam.  near  Flushing,  a  bay  mare. 

Capt.  JOSEPH  THORNE,  Brooklyn. 
JOHN  VOORHIES,  Flashing. 

210.  July  19,  '83,  Riv.  Any  persons  having  demands 
against  the  late  Lt.  Steadman,  64th  Reg.,  are  desired  to  send 
in  their  accounts  to  Lt.  Hutchinson,  of  the  64th  Grenadiers, 
near  Flushing, 

211.  Ten  guineas  reward.  Stolen  from  David  Haviland 
and  Robert  Lawrence,  thirty-four  sheep,  supposed  to  be  put  on 
board  some  boat  from  Ab'm  Lawrence's  Point,  where  they  left 
a  small  pen  standing,  after  catching  them.  Flushing^  Aug.  4, 
'83,  at  night. 

JAMAICA. 

212.  Soon  after  the  British  were  established  in  Jamaica,  a 
parcel  of  loyalists  perched  themselves  in  the  belfry  of  the  Pres- 


152  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

byterian  church,  and  commenced  sawing  off  the  steeple. 
Word  was  brought  to  the  pastor,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Burnet. 
Whithead  Hicks,  Mayor  of  New-York,  happened  to  be  at  his 
house,  and  as  Burnet  was  a  loyahst,  soon  put  a  stop  to  the 
outrage. 

Mr.  Burnet  (who  had  married  an  Episcopalian)  was  the  only  Presby- 
terian minister  in  the  county  reputed  to  be  a  friend  to  government, 
and  was  therefore  allowed  to  preach  here  during  the  whole  war.  Al- 
though he  saved  the  church  from  desecration  yet  after  the»peace,  party 
spirit  ran  so  high  that  he  was  forced  to  leave. 

The  Highlanders  attended  his  church,  and  sat  by  themselves  in  the 
galleries.  Some  had  their  wives  with  them,  and  several  children  were 
baptized.  Once  when  the  sexton  had  neglected  to  provide  water,  and 
was  about  to  go  for  it,  the  thoughtful  mother  called  him  back  and  drew 
a  bottle  of  it  from  her  pocket. 

213.  The  Dutch  church  was  used  as  a  storehouse.  The 
pulpit  was  left,  but  the  pews  and  floor  were  taken  out  and  used 
for  building  huts  and  barracks  for  the  soldiers.  Here,  every 
Sunday,  wagons  repaired,  not  to  carry  devout  worshippers, 
but  blaspheming  soldiers  to  get  their  weekly  allowance  of  pork, 
rum,  flour,  pease,  &c. ;  for  Sunday  was  the  chosen  day  for  all 
extra  duties. 

The  Dutch  occasionally  worshippeB  by  permission  in  the 
Episcopal  church,*  Domine  Rubell  or  Schoonmaker,  at  distant 
intervals,  making  the  tour  of  the  county  for  that  purpose,  and 
marrying  and  baptizing  all  who  were  ready.f  The  alms' 
chest  was  buried  in  a  sheep-pen  and  covered  with  litter,  by  I. 
Doxey. 

*The  rector.  Rev.  .T.  Bloomer,  also  preached  at  Newtown  and  Flushing. 

t  When  the  services  of  a  domine  could  not  be  procured,  the  Dutch 
went  to  gebedt,  where  they  sang,  read  prayers  and  a  sermon.  When 
Domine  Rubell  preached,  his  loyalty  was  evinced  by  the  fervency  of  his 
prayers  for  "King  George  III.,  Queen  Charlotie,  the  Princes  and 
Princesses  of  tlic  Royal  Family,  and  the  Upper  and  Lower  Houses  of 
Parliament,"  If  the  minister  omitted  this  prayer,  he  could  hardly  de- 
scend the  pulpit  before  receiving  a  reprimand  from  some  one  of  his 
hearers.  Dominie  Froeleigh,  pastor  of  the  Dutch  church,  had  been  an 
ardent  whig,  and  in  his  public  ministrations  often  prayed  the  Almighty 
to  strike  the  fleets  of  our  invaders  with  his  bolts,  and  sink  their  soldiers 


JAMAICA.  153. 

in  the  seas,  so  that  they  might  never  set  hoslile  foot  on  our  shores.  Be- 
fore the  British  came  to  Jamaica,  he  had  fled  to  Newtown,  and  lay  con- 
cealed one  night  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Rapalje  at  Hell-Gate,  who  set 
him  across  to  the  Main.  He  never  returned,  though  a  call  was  sent  to 
him  after  the  peace.  The  Dutch  parsonage  house  opposite  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Schoonmaker's,  was  occupied  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bowden. 

214.  After  the  British  hadpossessionof  Long  Island,  Ohver 
Delancey,  the  elder,  reputed  the  most  likely  person  to  induce 
the  loyalists  to  join  the  King's  troops,  who  had  been  appointed 
by  Howe  brigadier  general  of  the  southern  colony  of  New- 
York,  established  his  quarters  at  Jamaica,  first  at  the  parson- 
age-house of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Burnet,  and  afterwards  at  the  house 
of  Waters  Smith,  (now  J.  Siraonson's.)  where,  it  is  supposed, 
continued  during  the  war. 

215.  Jamaica  was  occupied  by  soldiers  during  the  whole 
war,  especially  in  winter,  when  the  soldiers  cantoned  here  after 
their  summer  expeditions.  On  the  side  hill,  north  of  the  vil- 
lage, were  several  rows  of  huts,  extending  a  mile  or  so  east 
and  west,  with  streets  between.  The  huts  were  partly  sunk  in 
the  earth,  with*  a  rude  stone  fire-place  and  chimney  of  sticks 
and  mortar,  covered  with  thatch,  sedge,  reeds,  or  sods,  laid 
over  boards.  Boards  \vere  in  such  demand  that  the  old  county 
hall  (now  Hcrriman's  Kow)  and  other  buildings  were  torn 
down  for  building  materials.  Rails  also  were  used  for  fuel  and 
huts,  till  not  a  length  of  fence  was  left  in  the  village;  and  even 
the  farmers  around,  took  up  their  fence  in  the  fall  and  reset  it 
in  the  Spring.* 

Officers  were  quartered  at  Justice  Smith's,  (now  P.  P.  Larre- 
more's,)  and  at  Justice  French's,  (now  W.  Nichol's.)  A  guard 
of  Jamaica  militia  (say  six)  stood  here  every  night  to  prevent 
their  being  carried  off.  All  wagons  to  and  from  New- York 
w^ere  examined.  G.  J.  was  going  to  market  one  night,  and  the 
noise  of  his  wagon  prevented  his  hearing  the  challenge  of  the 
sentinel  till  he  felt  the  bayonet  between  his  ribs. 

The  parade  was  between  the  huts  and  the  village.  The 
hospital  at  one  time  was  in  the  huts.  Here,  great  mortality 
prevailed,  and  the  dead  were  interred  so  carelessly  that  after 
the  peace  their  bones  were  seen  above  ground  and  were  again 
covered.    The  police  was  at  the  house  now  J.  D.  P.  Ogden's. 


154  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

The  wood  yard,  north  of  Dr.  Shelton's,  was  enclosed  with 
a  high  picketed  fence.  Before  the  war  the  hills  were  covered 
with  heavy  timber,  but  at  the  peace  all  were  bare. 

*  Con.  Gaz.,July  18,  '83.  A  person  from  Staten  Island  says  there 
is  scarcely  a  panel  of  fence  left  there  ;  and  others  say  it  is  precisely  the 
case  on  Long  Island,  the  rails  being  burnt  by  the  soldiers.  With  the 
greatest  difficulty  the  unfortunate  inhabitants  can  even  keep  small  en- 
closures for  their  cattle  and  flocks  at  night,  which  they  are  obliged  to 
watch  through  the  day,  to  save  their  grain  from  destruction. 

216.  Jan.  13,  '77,  Gaine.  A  grammar  school  is  now  open- 
ing at  Jamaica,  by  Andrew  Wilson,  who  for  some  years  has 
taught  Latin  and  Greek  at  Morristown.  Board  may  be  pro- 
cured at  Jamaica. 

217.  Feb.  24,  '77,  Gaine.  Fox  chase.  On  Sunday,  16th 
inst.,  a  rebel  fox  stole  into  the  town  of  Jamaica,  supposed  with 
a  design  to  steal  some  poultry  belonging  to  the  friends  of  gov- 
ernment; but  the  scent  being  very  strong,  was  soon  taken  by 
the  royal  hounds,  Avho  soon  opened  in  full  cry  upon  liim,  and 
pursued  him  over  the  hills  into  a  thick  swamp,,  where  they  left 
him  for  the  present ;  but  as  the  town  has  been  frequently  dis- 
turbed by  this  obnoxious  animal,  a  sharp  look  out  will  be  kept 
for  him  in  future.     [Some  concealed  Whig  probably. — Ed.] 

218.  May  8,  '77.  The  representatives  for  Queens  county, 
appointed  bv  the  Convention  till  Queens  shall  be  in  a  condition 
to  elect  others,  were  Philip  Edsall,  Benj.  Coe,  B.  Birdsali,  and 
D.  Lawrence.     (See  108,  and  Thompson  II,  493.) 

219.  May  26,  '77,  Gaine.  $4  reward.  Ran  away,  from 
Capt.  Tho's  Harriot,  Jamaica,  South,  a  negro  ;  had  on  a  short 
gray  coat,  bniss  buttons,  brown  jacket,  homespun  trowsers,  and 
beaver  hat  cocked.  Masters  of  vessels  are  desired  not  to  ship 
or  carry  him  off.     He  was  bred  to  the  sea. 

220.  June  2,  '77,  Gaine.  Lost,  the  pocket  book  of  Major 
Alex.  Campbell,  74th,  containing  two  half-joes,  and  some  small 
money,  which  the  finder  is  welcome  to,  and  $2  reward. 

221.  June  14,  '77.  Rev.  Mr.  Hart,  of  Huntington,  is  in  Ja- 
maica jail  for  his  bold  avowal  of  whig  principles. 

222.  Col.  Graydon,  a  prif^oiior  on  jiarolc.  at  Flatbush,  who 


JAMAICA.  155 

had  permission  to  dine  with  Alexander  Wallace,  at  Jamaica,  in 
the  spring  of  '77,  thus  describes  his  visit : 

•'  Upon  our  first  arrival  at  Jamaica,  after  putting  up  our  horses  at  an 
inn,  we  concluded  to  take  a  ramble  through  the  town  before  we  went  to 
Mr.  Wallace's.  We  had  accordingly  strolled  to  nearly  the  end  of  the 
main  street,  when  we  observed  a  soldier  coming  after  us.  Approaching 
with  due  military  etiquette,  he  gave  U3  to  understand  he  came  by  order 
of  Col.  Fanning,  who  desired  to  speak  with  us  at  his  quarters.  We  im- 
mediately returned  with  him  to  the  colonel,  who  informed  us  that  he  pre- 
sumed we  were  prisoners ;  and  if  so,  as  we  were  without  our  limits,  he 
conceived  it  his  duty  to  inquire  into  the  cause  of  it.  We  told  him  we 
came  to  dine  with  Mr.  Wallace,  who  had  obtained  permission  for  us  from 
the  commissary  of  prisoners.  Had  we  any  certificate  of  it  ?  he  asked. 
We  replied,  No,  as  we  relied  on  Mr.  Wallace.  Finding  he  still  seemed 
to  consider  it  dubious,  we  thought  it  time  to  assert  ourselves  a  little,  and 
told  him  it  was  a  matter  of  the  utmost  indifference  to  us  what  part  he 
might  adopt.  After  a  moment's  consideration,  he  thought  proper  to  dis- 
miss us.  This  Mr.  Fanning  had  been  secretary  of  Gov.  Tryon,  and  now 
commanded  a  regiment  of  new  levies  stationed  here. 

"  Mr.  Wallace  entertained  us  with  much  hospitality,  and  to  show 
that  this  civility  was  not  to  be  considered  in  any  degree  as  a  toleration  of 
our  principles,  his  son,  a  boy  of  seven  or  eight  years  of  age,  came  into 
the  room,  and  his  father,  putting  a  glass  of  wine  into  his  hand,  asked 
him  what  he  drank?  '  Church  and  King,'  replied  the  little  fellow  in  an 
audible  voice.  I  had  recently  contemplated  becoming  an  Episcopalian, 
yet  the  sentiment  appeared  to  me  selfish  and  degrading  in  the  extreme." 

223.  Sep.  1,  '77,  Gaine.  We  have  the  pleasure  to  acquaint 
the  people  that  the  little  town  of  Jamaica  has  contributed,  to 
the  encouragement  of  the  new  corps  raised  in  the  Province  at 
the  request  of  Gov.  Tryon.  £219,  delivered  by  Joseph  French, 
Esquire. 

224.  Oct.  6,  '77,  Gaine.  The  Jamaica  new  stage  wagon 
will  set  off  from  Hope  Mills'  at  7,  on  Monday,  Wednesday  and 
Saturday  mornings^  for  Brooklyn  ferry,  and  return  on  the  same 
days.  For  freight  or  passage,  apply  to  the  public's  humble 
servant,  HOPE  MILLS. 

N.  B.  All  letters  and  newspapers  proper  care  will  be 
taken  of. 

225.  Riv..  Dec.^.'^ll.     A  guinea  and  charges  paid.    Stolen 


156  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

or  strayed  in  the  night  of  Nov.  20,  from  the  pasture  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Bowden,  in  Jamaica,  a  dark  gray  mare. 

Mr.  BETTS,  Innkeeper. 

226.  At  a  town  meeting  at  Jamaica,  Nov.  '77,  to  provide 
firewood  and  other  necessary  articles  for  the  use  of  the  hospi- 
tal and  guard-house  in  Jamaica,  [where  were  thej  ?]  it  was 
voted,  1st.  That  all  who  have  soldiers  billeted  on  them  be  ex- 
cepted. 2dly.  That  the  following  be  appointed  trustees  for  the 
above  purpose,  viz. :  John  Polhemus,  for  the  Western  District ; 
John  Lamberson  and  John  Doughty,  for  Springfield;  Jacamiah 
Valentine,  for  the  Eastern  District;  Dowe  Ditmars,  for  the 
Southern  District.  3dly.  That  Edward  Willets  be  appointed  to 
inspect  the  wood  and  give  certificates. —  Town  Records. 

227.  Dec.  6,  '77,  Riv.  $20  reward.  Lost,  two  black  mares, 
&c.  JACOB  SMITH,  at  Jamaica,  Capt. 

1st  Comp.,  1st  Bat.,  Delancy^s  Brigade. 

228.  Dec.  27,  '77.  The  1st  battalion  of  Gen.  Frazer  is  to 
be  quartered  at  Jamaica. — Riv. 

229.  Jan.  31,  '78,  Riv.  Stolen  or  strayed,  from  the  pasture 
of  Dr.  Charlton  of  Jamaica,  a  black  mare,  &c. 

230.  Riv.,  Mar.  28,  '78.  To  be  sold,  by  Edward  Willet,  of 
Jamaica,  12,000  acres  of  land  in  the  Patent  of  Minisink,  also  a 
first  rate  negro  wench  with  two  very  fine  children. 

231.  Light  Dragoons.  All  gentlemen  volunteers,  who  are 
disposed  to  serve  his  Majesty  in  Capt.  Kinlock's  troop  of  light 
dragoons,  now  raising  on  Long  Island,  are  desired  to  repair 
to  his  quarters  at  Jamaica,*  where  they  will  find  good  encour- 
agement, together  with  an  horse,  clothing,  and  proper  accou- 
trements, and  enter  immediately  on  the  same  pay  with  the 
British  dragoons.  None  need  apply  but  those  ol'  good  cliarac- 
ter.— Riv.,  May  2,  '78. 

*  He  lay  on  a  hill  north  of  Miss  Rowlands'. 

232.  June  29,  '78,  Gaine.  $3  reward.  Stole  or  strayed  out 
of  the  pasture  of  Tho's  Harriot,  Jamaica  South,  May  15,  a 
mouse-colored  cow  and  two  yearlings,  with  the  broad  arrow 
mp,rked  on  each. 

233.  July,  '78.     Wm.  Betts  keeps  the  tavern,  sign  of  Gen, 


JAMAICA.  157 

Amherstj  formerly  kept  by  John  Comes,  opposite  the  meeting- 
house. 

234.  Riv.,  Aug.  29, '78.  Tho's  Rochford  has  taken  the 
house,  late  of  Wm.  Betts,  and  informs  the  gentlemen  of  the 
army  and  navy,  and  inhabitants  of  New- York,  that  they 
can  have  breakfasts  and  dinners  on  the  shortest  notice.  He 
has  laid  in  an  assortment  of  liquors  of  the  best  quality. 

235.  Oct.  14,  '78,  Gaine.  The  races  at  Capt.  Polhemus's, 
New  Lots,  are  changed  to  Jamaica ;  purse  20  guineas. 

236.  Dec.  7,  '78,  Gaine.  Capt.  F.  Graham,  of  37th  Grena- 
diers, died  of  apoplexy  at  Jamaica. 

237.  Dec.  8,  '78,  Holt.  A  gentleman  from  Long  Island  says 
there  are  400  dragoons  at  Hempstead,  150  at  Lloyd's  Neck, 
470  at  Oyster  Bay,  1,500  [foot?]  at  Jamaica,  200  yagers  at 
Flushing,  350  at  Newtown,  3,000  on  board  British  fleet  under 
Gen.  Campbell,  200  at  the  ferry,  and  3,000  on  New- York 
Island.* 

*  New  Haven,  Jan.  6,  '79.  We  hear  about  1,500  of  the  enemy's 
troops,  and  400  or  500  of  their  light-horse,  wagon  horses,  &c.,  are  quar- 
tered on  the  inhabitants  of  Long  Island. 

238.  Feb.  27,  '79,  Biv.  $10  reward.  Stolen  in  the  night 
of  Feb.  24,  out  of  the  stable  of  Major  Bowden,  at  Jamaica,  a 
sorrel  horse,  his  mane  lying  on  the  mounting  side,  &c. 

JOHN  BOWDEN. 

239.  Feb.  27,  '79,  Gaine.  $6  reward.  Run  away,  Tom. 
He  had  on  a  dark  gray  short  coat,  belt  waistcoat,  yellow  metal 
buttons,  buff  breeches,  white  worsted  stockings.  'Tis  thought 
he  will  try  to  go  out  in  some  privateer. 

B.  SMITH,  Jamaica. 

240.  Ap.  7,  '79,  Biv.  A  horse  for  sale  at  the  parsonage, 
[Mr.  Bloomer's,]  formerly  W. Creed's,  one  mile  west  of  Jamaica. 

241.  Ap.  13,  '79.  It  is  said  the  British  troops  on  Long 
[sland  are  commanded  by  Gen.  Vaughan. 

242.  Loosely  and  Elms  propose  to  run  a  CARAVAN  to 
Jamaica  and  back  to  Brooklyn  ferry,  on  Tuesdays,  Thursdays, 
and  Sundays.— i?ir.,  May  26,  '79. 

8 


158  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

243.  Ju.  17,  '79,  Riv.  Rochford  has  quit  the  tavern,  sign 
of  Gen.  Amherst,  and  opened  the  Queen's  Head,  at  the  house 
lately  occupied  by  Gen.  Skinner,  first  house  north  side  of  the 
street  above  the  Enghsh  church,  [now  Dr.  Shelton's.]  He  is 
grateful  to  the  gentlemen  of  the  army  and  navy,  &c. 

244.  July  10,  '79,  Riv.  Wm.  Betts  has  opened  the  tavern, 
formerly  John  Coombs's,  sign  of  Gen.  Amherst,  opposite  the 
meeting-house,  where  he  has  provided  choice  liquors.  Din- 
ners on  the  shortest  notice,  and  good  stabling. 

245.  Se^.  15,  '79,  Riv.  Died,  at  Jamaica,  aged  40.  George 
Brew^erton,  2d  Bat,  Delancey's  Brigade.  When  young,  he 
was  Col.  of  a  New-York  regiment  at  the  reduction  of  Havana, 
(Aug.  14,  1762,)  universally  beloved,  and  his  death  greatly 
lamented. 

246.  Oct.  16,  '79.  Jamaica  races.  20  guineas,  three  heats  ; 
twice  round  the  course,  at  Beaver  Pond,  to  each  heat. 

247.  Tickets  for  the  Jamaica  Accession  Ball,  Oct.  25,  '79, 
for  the  inhabitants  and  officers  quartered  there,  are  issuing  at 
the  Q,ueen's  Head  and  Gen.  Amherst.  A  grand  band  of  music 
will  be  wanted. 

[George  III.'s  accession  to  the  throne  took  place  Oct.  25, 
1760.—^^/.] 

248.  Loyal  Refugees  recruiting  at  Betts's  tavern.  Abm.  C. 
Cuyler,  Esq.,  is  authorized  to  raise  a  battalion  of  600  men. — 
Riv.,  Nov.  3,  '79. 

[He  was  thanked  at  Smithtown,  Jan.  31,  '81,  when  he  left 
for  England. — Ed.'\ 

249.  Mar.  18,  '80.  A  munificent  entertainment  was  given  by 
Lord  Rawdon,  Col.  of  the  volunteers  of  Ireland,  to  his  regi- 
ment, quartered  at  Jamaica,  in  honor  of  St.  Patrick,  tutelar 
saint  of  that  kingdom.  Song  by  Barny  Thompson,  piper  to 
the  regiment,  tune  Langolce : 

Success  to  the  shamrogue,  and  all  those  who  wear  it, 

He  honor  their  portion  wherever  they  go, 
May  riches  attend  tljcm,  and  store  of  good  clarot, 

For  how  to  employ  them  sure  none  better  know. 
Every  foe  surveys  them  with  terror, 

But  every  silk  petticoat  wishes  them  nearer, 
So  Yanket  keep  off,  or  you'll  soon  learn  your  error, 

For  Peddy  ihall  proitrate  lay  every  foe. 


JAMAICA.  159 

This  day,  but  the  year  I  can't  rightly  determine, 

St.  Patrick  the  vipers  did  chase  from  this  land, 
Let's  see  if;  like  him.  we  can't  sweep  off  the  vermin, 

Who  dare  'gainst  the  sons  of  the  shamrogue  to  stand. 
Hand  in  hand  !  Let's  caiol  the  chorus — 

"  As  long  as  the  blessings  of  Ireland  hang  o'er  us, 
The  crest  of  Rebellion  shall  tremble  before  us, 

Like  broihers,  while  thus  we  march  hand  in  hand  I" 

250.  2  guineas  reward.  Ran  away,  June  4.  'SO,  a  negro 
man.  Will,  thick  lips,  had  on  corduroy  breeches.  &c. 

JOHN  AMBERMAN. 

251.  Last  Sunday  evening,  was  married,  at  the  seat  of 
Gen.  Skinner,  near  Jamaica,  [then  Rev.  A.  Keteltas's,  now  S. 
Judd's,]  Capt.  Meredith,  70th  Reg't,  to  Miss  Gertrude,  third 
daughter  of  Brig.  Gen.  Skinner,  a  young  lady  whose  mental 
and  personal  accomplishments  promise  the  most  permanent  fe- 
\icitY-—Ju-  14,  '80. 

252.  Three  days  ago.  Capt.  W.  Dickson,  commander  of 
one  of  the  New-York  volunteer  companies,  was  unfortunately 
drowned  while  bathing  in  a  pond  in  the  neighborhood  of  Ja- 
maica, whither  the  corpse  was  brought  and  interred  on  Mon- 
day evening,  attended  by  Major  Small  and  the  officers  of  the 
regiment  of  Royal  Highland  Emigrants  stationed  there. — Ju. 
17,  '80,  Gaine. 

253.  The  American  officers  were  admitted  to  parole  in  the 
pleasant  village  of  Jamaica,  till  July  10,  '80,  when,  having 
previously  broken  their  parole,  and  otherwise  behaved  so  badly, 
it  was  refused  them.     Sproat. — Feb.  12,  '81,  Gaine. 

254.  Aug.  23,  '80,  Riv.  Run  away  from  Jamaica,  a  large 
fat  young  wench,  with  three  cuts  on  each  cheek,  late  from 
Charleston.  Whoever  sends  her  to  Col.  Linsing,  or  Ray  & 
Fitzsimmons,  merchants,  Jamaica,  shall  have  $5  reward  and 
charges. 

255.  In  the  fall  of  1780,  a  British  half-pay  officer.  Crowe,  or 
Crowell,  quartered  at  John  Montanye's,  on  the  Rockaway 
road,  at  Foster's  meadow,  (a  large  house  burnt  down  a  few 
years  ago.)  sent  his  serv^ant  to  Derick  Amberman's  mill  for  flour, 
The  miller,  half-joking,  bid  the  servant  tell  his  master  to  send 
money  with  his  bag  next  time,  as  he  could  trust  him  no  longer. 


160  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

Crowe  had  been  drinking  and  was  ready  for  violence.  In  com- 
pany with  a  brother  officer,  (a  guest  of  his,  from  New  Jersey, 
Maj.  Stockton,  quartered  at  Uriah  Piatt's,)  he  rode  down  to  the 
mill,  half  a  mile  distant,  called  the  miller  out,  and  commenced 
beating  him  on  the  head  with  a  loaded  whip.  A  wagon  now 
came  along  with  several  persons  in  it,  and  they  were  ordered 
in  the  KING'S  NAME  to  stand,  and  so  great  was  their  terror 
that  they  dared  give  no  assistance  to  the  miller. 

His  eldest  daughter,  Sarah,  being  informed  by  a  lad  at  the 
wood-pile  of  what  was  going  on,  ran  out,  and  seeing  her  father 
warding  off  the  blows  with  a  piece  of  board,  picked  up  a  bit  of 
rail  and  made  at  the  assailant.  They  bid  her  keep  off,  or  they 
would  throw  her  in  the  pond,  which  they  tried  to  do.  She  es- 
caped, however,  and  returned  to  the  charge,  but  could  not  as- 
sist her  father. 

Crowe  kept  beating  him  till  he  fell,  when  Stockton  came  up 
and  run  him  through.  The  wounded  man  then  made  for  the 
house,  but  was  unable  to  ascend  the  steps — the  stoop  is  still  stand- 
ing— when  his  daughter  assisted  him  and  led  him  into  the  back 
room,  where  he  fell  on  the  floor  saying,  "  The  villains  have 
made  a  dead  man  of  me." 

His  wife  had  been  visiting  at  a  neighbor's,  and  saw  the 
whole  transaction,  and  reached  home  only  in  time  to  take  her 
husband's  head  on  her  lap,  when  he  gasped  once  or  twice  and 
expired.  The  alarm  was  soon  spread,  when  Tunis  Covert,  Ser- 
jeant, with  a  few  militia,  hastened  to  Crowe's  quarters,  rushed 
on  the  officers  before  they  could  fire — it  was  now  dark — arrested 
them  as  they  were  mounting  their  horses  to  escape,  bound  them 
and  carried  them  back  to  the  mill.  They  were  put  under  guard 
at  Jamaica  that  night,  and  subsequently  taken  to  Bedford  for 
trial.  A  coroner's  jury  had  rendered  a  verdict  of  wilful  mur- 
der. But  the  question  arose,  which  wound  caused  the  death  ? 
The  body  was  disinterred  and  a  second  jury  summoned.  The 
surgeon  who  opened  the  body  was  of  the  opinion,  that,  though 
there  was  a  huge  swelling  on  the  forehead,  occasioned  by  the 
blows  of  the  whip,  he  died  of  the  stab;  the  sword  had  passed 
within  an  inch  of  the  heart. 

It  is  not  known  what  became  of  the  olVcnders,  but  it  is  sup- 
posed they  were  acquitted. 


JAMAICA.  161 

It  is  said  that  an  Irish  officer,  McNeil,  in  a  quarrel  af- 
terwards at  Nova  Scotia,  upbraided  Stockton  with  this  murder, 
and  challenged  him  at  the  sword. 

256.  Riv.,  Sept.  6,  '80.  Last  Sunday  night,  died  at  Jamaica, 
of  a  very  painful  illness,  Dr.  Jacob  Ogden,  aged  59.  Through 
a  long  course  of  successful  practice,  he  acquired  an  extensive 
and  respectable  acquaintance,  who  valued  him  for  a  goodness 
of  heart,  which  marks  the  honest  and  benevolent  man. 

257.  Sept.  11,  '80,  Gaine.  Died  at  Jamaica,  aged  75,  Capt. 
Benj.  Whitehead,  supervisor.  His  attachment  to  government 
involved  him  in  many  difficulties,  which  he  bore  with  the  great- 
est fortitude. 

258.  Sept.  22,  '80.  The  dueen's  Rangers  marched  from 
Oyster  Bay  to  Jamaica,  and  crossed  from  Long  Island  to  Rich- 
mond redoubts,  Staten  Island,  Oct.  8. 

259.  Oct.  25,  '80,  Riv.  John  Waller,  Esq.,  Major  of  bri- 
gade to  Brig.  Gen.  Delancey,  died  of  fever  at  Jamaica. 

260.  Feb.  12,  '81,  Gaine.  Mrs.  Marsh's  place  [now  J.  A. 
King's]  for  sale.  It  lies  on  the  Main-street,  bounded  east  by  the 
cemetery  of  the  English  church,  and  west  by  the  Dutch  par- 
Bonage,  (now  occupied  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bowden,)  west  by  land 
of  widow  Banks.     Inquire  of  Rev.  John  Sayre,  New-Y'ork. 

261.  Riv.,  March,  '81.  B.  Creed's  Jamaica  and  Brooklyn- 
Hall  Stage  Machine,  6s.  a  passage  ;  not  answerable  for  money, 
plate  and  jewels,  unless  entered  and  paid  for. 

262.  April  7,  '81,  Riv.  To  be  let,  a  commodious  house  and 
garden,  in  possession  of  Tho's  Rochford,  4  rooms  on  the  lower 
floor,  3  on  2d  floor. 

263.  May  12,  '81,  Riv.  Rochford,  of  the  Queen's  Head,  has  re- 
moved to  the  house  containing  8  rooms,  lately  occupied  by  John 
Livingston,  [now  R.  J.  Snedeker's.]  He  begs  leave  to  inform 
the  ladies  and  gentlemen  that  he  has  an  elegant  garden  with 
arbors,  bowers,  alcoves,  grottos,  naids,  dryads,  hamadryads, 
&c.,  &c. 

He  has  a  stock  of  good  liquors,  and  can  at  anytime  furnish 
genteel  dinners.  The  ladies  and  gentlemen  who  choose  to 
make  an  excursion  to  thepleasant  village  of  Jamaica,  remarka- 


162  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

ble  for  the  salubrity  of  its  air,  may  depend  on  good  cheer  and 
the  utmost  attention. 

264.  $10  reward.  Run  away  from  Ray  &  Fitzsimons, 
merchants,  two  miles  beyond  Jamaica,  [now  I.  G.  Carpenter's.] 
a  negro.  Hercules,  apt  to  stutter  on  a  surprise,  had  on  velvet 
plush  breeches,  &c. ;  and  a  wench,  young  and  lusty,  with  three 
scars  on  each  cheek,  from  the  southward.     Riv.,  May  16,  '81. 

265.  July  7,  '81.  An  express  from  the  Keppel*  sloop  left  a 
bay  horse  at  the  house  of  Capt.  Nicholas  Ludlam,  [now  D.  I. 
Ditmis'Sj]  Jamaica,  for  which  no  owner  has  yet  appeared. 

[*The  Keppel  took  some  vvhaleboatmen  near  Setauket. — Ed."] 

266.  Jan.  5,  '82,  Riv.  Lt.  Steadman,  of  the  64th  company 
of  grenadiers,  fell  from  his  horse  on  the  road  from  Jamaica  to 
Brooklyn.  The  corpse  was  interred  in  the  church  yard  of  Ja- 
maica, with  military  honors,  attended  by  the  officers  of  both 
battalions  of  grenadiers. 

All  persons  having  demands  against  Lt.  Steadman  will  send 
them  to  Capt.  Symondson,  64th  grenadiers,  Jamaica. 

267.  April  24,  '82,  Riv.     Address  of  the  loyal  inhabitants  of 

Foster'' s  Meadow  and  Springfield,  to  the  British  Legion,  on 

leaving  their  district : 

We,  the  loyal  inhabitants  within  the  districts  of  Foster's 

Meadow  and  Springfield,  impressed  with  the  deepest  sense  of 

gratitude  and  esteem,  beg  leave  to  approach  you  and  return  you 

our  most  sincere  thanks  for  your  kind  attention  to  our  interests 

during  your  winter  residence  within  our  districts.  We  beg  leave 

to  assure  you  of  our  best  wishes  wherever  your  duty  calls  ;  and 

it  is  our  most  fervent  prayer  that  tlie  Almighty  may  take  you 

under  his  protection  in  the  day  oi"  battle. 

GAPHINEAH  SPOONER, 
In  behalf  of  26  most  respectable  inhabitants. 

Reply  of  the  British  Legion. 
Gentlemen  : — During   the   unhappy   differences  between 
Great  Britain  and  her  colonies,  it  ever  has  been  our  study  to 
attend  to  the  private  interests  of  every  virtuous  citizen  of  Amer- 
ica.    We  return  you  our  thanks,  and  sincerely  wish  your  fields 


JAMAICA.  163 

may  yield  you  a  most  plentiful  harvest,  and  your  flocks  may 
bring  forth  in  abundance,  to  the  mutual  interest  of  the  army 
and  inhabitants.* 

*  Soldiers  were  billeted  at  almost  every  house  in  Foster's  Meadow 
and  Springfield.     There  was  much  robbery,  thieving  and  disorder. 

The  wagoners  were  billeted  in  Springfield,  sometimes  20  horses  in  a 
barn.  In  a  lot  south  of  Capt.  Grant's  (now  Ab'm  Higbie's)  was  a  hay 
magazine,  constantly  guarded  to  keep  off  incendiaries.  Another  hay 
magazine  and  the  King's  stables  (that  would  hold  100  wagoners'  horses), 
were  at  Samuel  Doughty's,  (now  Jacob  Bergen's,)  Jamaica  South.  These 
wagons  were  drawn  by  four  horses,  single  breasted,  and  driven  without 
reins.     They  probably  came  from  Pennsylvania. 

The  farmets  put  ofTlhe  poorest  salt-hay  (meadow  drift,  &c.)  on  the  fo- 
rage masters,  while  the  best  they  would  cart  home  by  a  circuitous  route, 
to  escape  observation,  and  hide  it  under  refuse  stuff  in  their  barns. — Ed. 

268.  May  22,  '82,  Biv.  The  grenadiers,  I7th  dragoons,  and 
other  corps  on  Long  Island,  were  reviewed  by  Sir  G.  Carlton. 

269.  Ma7j  18,  '82,  Riv.  All  persons  having  demands  against 
Lieutenant  Colin  Campbell,  74th  regiment  light  infantry,  at 
Jamaica,  will  lodge  their  claims  with  Capt.  Colquhoun,  74th 
grenadiers. 

270.  Maij  25,  '82,  Riv.  Alex.  Macauley  &  Co.  intend 
removing  from  Jamaica. 

271.  April  5,  '82,  Riv.  Malcolm  Morrison,  at  Jamaica, 
failed  :  also  Rochford,  inn-keeper. 

272.  June  12,  '82.  $10  reward.  Run  away,  a  negro  boy 
Frank,  took  a  pale  blue  broadcloth  coat  and  jacket  and  a  new 
castor  hat.  It  is  imagined  he  intends  going  on  board  some 
privateer.  Douwe  Ditmars. 

273.  July  20,  '82.  To  be  sold  by  auction,  at  Jamaica,  July 
27,  sundry  damaged  provisions,  consisting  of  pork,  peas  and 
butter. 

274.  Aug.  21,  '82.  Piano,  mahogany  chairs,  phaeton,  &c., 
at  vendue,  at  Capt.  'Wm.  Wade's.  Jamaica,  opposite  Betts' 
tavern,  he  intending  for  Ireland  per  first  fleet. 

275.  Oct.  3,  '82.  New  flying  machine,  on  steel  springs, 
Thursday,  Sunday  and  Tuesday,  from  Brooklyn,  at  8  o'clock, 


164  ARBIED    OCCUPATION. 

to  Jamaica,  and  return  same  evening.     Breakfas-tmg  at  Brook- 
lyn Hall,  stage  mornings. 

276.  Oct.  19,  '82.  To  be  run  for,  around  Bearer  Pond,  a 
purse  of  £50 :  the  best  two  in  three  one-mile  heats,  free  for 
any  horse  except  Mercury,  Slow  and  Easy  and  Goldfinder. 
One  guinea  entrance,  to  be  paid  at  the  sign  of  tlie  "King's 
Arms,"  Jamaica. 

277.  March  17,  '83.  For  sale,  a  lot  of  ground  in  Jamaica, 
near  the  Presbyterian  church,  owing  to  the  present  times  out 
of  fence.  It  lies  50  feet  along  Church  Lane,  40  feet  front  and 
rear.     The  owner  going  to  England. 

278.  March  17,  '83.  At  public  auction,  the  whole  stock  of 
Hart  &  Chaloner,  (failed,)  at  their  store,  Jamaica.  Dry 
goods,  china  and  earthen  ware,  and  some  groceries. 

279.  March  31,  '83.  The  partnership  of  Cunningham, 
Scott,  &  Co.,  of  Jamaica,  is  dissolved :  remaining  stock  to  be 
Bold  very  reasonable. 

280.  April  12,  '83.  Riv.  To  be  sold  by  auction,  upwards 
of  200  excellent  dragoon  horses,  in  high  condition,  belonging 
to  cavalry  officers :  at  Brooklyn,  April  14,  40  horses ;  Jamaica, 
April  15,  40  horses ;  at  the  wind-mill,  on  Hempstead  Plains, 
April  16,  40  horses ;  at  Huntington,  April  14,  15  and  16,  80 
horses ;  at  Richmond,  April  16,  40  horses. 

281.  The  widow  Mills,  upper  end  of  Springfield,  had  a 
vendue,  and  was  supposed  to  have  money  in  her  possession. 
As  some  robbers  broke  in  her  front  door,  the  widow,  though 
she  could  scarcely  move  before,  was  nimble  enough  to  escape 
by  a  back  passage  unobserved,  and  rallied  her  neighbors,  who 
at  a  cautious  distance  fired  into  the  house  at  the  robbers,  who 
scampered  out  pell-mell,  and  not  one  was  seized.  One  of  the 
robbers  (who  was  a  neighbor)  asked  a  lad  in  bed  if  he  knew 
him.  The  aflVightcd  little  fellow  luckily  replied  in  the  nega- 
tive, and  so  saved  his  life. 

As  the  inmates  of  the  house  told  the  robbers  (to  get  rid  o^ 
them)  that  Capt.  N.  Ludlam  had  their  money,  the  Capt.  felt 
apprehensive  of  a  like  visit,  and  obtained  an  order  from  the 
commandant  at  Jamaica  to  set  a  patrol  from  his  house  (now 


JAMAICA.  165 

D.  I.  Ditmis's)  to  Box's  tavern,  and  thence  to  Amberman's  gate, 
Rockaway  road.  The  alarm  signal  was  one  discharge,  a 
pause,  then  two  in  quick  succession.  One  man  was  shot  by 
this  patrol. 

'Squire  B.  Everitt,  (now  H.  Story's,)  treasurer  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church,  heard  a  knocking  at  his  door,  which  he  open- 
ed, when  he  was  knocked  down  and  severely  beaten,  to  make 
him  disclose  his  money.  He  said  he  had  but  little ;  and  this, 
crawling  to  his  chest,  he  gave  the  robbers. 

282.  One  Sunday  night,  the  latter  part  of  the  war,  the 
house  of  Wm.  Ludlam,  Bog  Lots,  was  robbed  of  linen,  cloth- 
ing, &c.  A  sum  of  money  hid  behind  the  chimney  escaped 
notice.  The  robbers  surrounded  the  house  and  broke  in  a 
panel  of  the  door  with  a  stone.  The  old  man  sprung  up,  but 
they  sent  him  to  bed  again,  laid  their  muskets  across  the  bed, 
and  bid  all  lay  quiet. 

John  Williamson  was  robbed  of  £300,  hid  under  the  hearth- 
stone, which  he  disclosed  after  the  torture  of  hot  coals. 

The  next  night,  (say  April,  1783,)  the  same  gang,  in  the 
absence  of  their  leader,  Huddleston,  having  found  the  house 
door  too  strong,  broke  into  the  kitchen  of  Wm.  Creed,*  (since 
T.  Van  Wicklen's,)  where  a  Highlander  slept  as  a  safeguard. 
Him  they  bid  lay  still,  as  they  did  not  intend  to  harm  him. 
They  then  passed  into  the  room  where  Mr.  Creed  lay  sick  with 
rheumatism.  They  discovered  him  by  the  flash  of  his  carbine, 
which  they  grappled,  and  hauled  him  out  of  bed  and  abused 
him.  Thereupon  the  Highlander  came  to  the  rescue  with  his 
broadsword,  and  cut  open  the  skull  of  the  sentry.  Another 
grasped  his  sword  and  had  his  fingers  cut  off  as  it  was  drawn 
through.  During  the  scuffle,  Creed's  son  came  down  stairs, 
and  was  engaged  in  the  melee.  The  robbers  were  finally 
beaten  off,  when  the  Highlander  proposed  they  should  go  out 
and  see  if  any  wounded  or  dead  lay  around  the  house.  They 
discovered  one,  Humans,  by  the  well,  with  his  entrails  protrud- 
ing. He  had  on  W.  Ludlam's  Sunday  shoes,  with  silver 
buckles,  which  implicated  him  in  that  robbery.  Finding  his 
end  near,  he  made  a  full  confession  of  this  and  previous  crimes 
to  his  commanding  officer.     A  secret  cave  in  the  woods  back 

8* 


166  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

of  Jamaica  was  searched,  and  all  who  had  been  robbed  came 
forward  and  picked  out  their  lost  property.  McDraw,  the 
guard,  received  a  liberal  contribution  from  the  spectators,  who 
assembled  at  Creed's  next  morning. 

*  W.  Creed  was  a  whig,  and  suffered  accordingly.  A  neighbor  led 
some  soldiers  to  his  house,  who  took  his  three  cows.  His  wife  begged 
them  to  leave  them,  as  they  afforded  the  only  sustenance  she  and  her 
children  could  get.  The  reply  was,  "  Why,  madam,  they  belong  to  the 
Crown,"  and  off  they  went.  At  another  time  a  number  of  light-horse 
were  turned  into  his  oats  to  graze,  just  as  it  was  in  head.  He  had  a 
great  quantity  of  wood  cut  off  for  fuel  and  building  huts.  He  had  a 
great  many  horses  stabled  in  his  barn,  and  a  neighbor,  a  loyalist,  kept 
carting  away  the  manure  for  years.  His  daughter,  however,  watched 
from  a  window,  and  kept  account  of  the  number  of  loads.  At  the  peace 
Creed  sent  in  his  bill,  and  the  whole  amount  was  paid. 

283.  To  be  let,  a  large  and  commodious  dwelling,  at  Ja- 
maica, in  which  Michael  Price  (who  intends  for  England) 
now  keeps  a  store.  The  first  stand  for  business,  except  New- 
York,  within  the  British  hues.  April  28,  1783. 

284.  April  28,  '83.  To  be  sold  or  let,  the  house  and  gar- 
den lately  occupied  by  Widow  Harris,  Jamaica,  on  the  road 
leading  to  Flushing,  and  opposite  the  English  church,  [rear  of 
Dr.  Shelton's.] 

285.  Ju7ie  28,  '83.  To  be  run  for,  Wednesday  next,  around 
Beaver  Pond,  a  purse  of  100  guineas,  by  the  noted  mare  Calf 
Skin  and  the  noted  horse  Leotley,  from  Boston. 

286.  Several  horses  of  the  17tli  light  dragoons  to  be  sold 
at  Jamaica,  July  19,  1783. 

287.  Aug.  8,  '83.  For  sale,  the  noted  "  White  Store  "  of 
Alex.  Haire,  at  Little  Plains,  one  of  the  best  situations  for  busi- 
ness on  the  island.  John  Rem  sen. 

288.  Biv.,  Sept.  13,  '83.  Those  loyalists  who  enrolled 
themselves  in  Capt.  John  Polhemus's  company,  Ibr  Annapolis 
Royal,  are  informed  the  ship  is  ready  to  receive  them.  Those 
who  neglect  complying  witii  this  notice  will  be  precluded  a 
passage  at  the  expense  of  government. 


NORTH    HEMPSTEAD.  167 


NORTH  HEMPSTEAD. 


289.  Gaine,  Feb.  15,  '77.  A  few  evenings  ago  four  boats 
full  of  men  came  over  from  Rye  to  the  opposite  shore  on  Long 
Island,  and  carried  off  a  sloop  laden  with  poultry  and  other 
things  for  New- York  market.  The  fog  was  so  thick  that  the 
guard,  which  is  constantly  kept  on  shore,  did  not  perceive  them. 
One  man  was  taken  in  the  sloop. 

290.  March  24,  '77,  Game.  Last  week  a  rebel  privateer 
came  out  of  Byram  river,  and  took  a  boat  coming  to  town  with 
wood  and  some  other  small  matters,  from  Long  Island. 

291.  Fishkill,  May  22,  '77,  We  are  informed  200  wagons 
have  lately  been  sent  from  Long  Island  to  the  enemy's  head 
quarters,  at  Brunswick,  to  remove  baggage. 

292.  It  was  not  unusual  for  families  within  the  British 
lines  to  be  exchanged  for  those  without,  but  as  it  gave  op- 
portunity for  conveying  intelligence  to  the  enemy,  it  proba- 
bly was  exercised  with  great  caution. — Ed. 

Head  Quarters,   Peekskill,   April   16,    '77.     Permission  is 
hereby  granted  Peter  Corney  to  obtain  an  exchange  of  his  fur- 
niture and  effects  for  those  of  Mr.  B.  Birdsall,  of  Oyster  Bay ; 
and  Mr.  Proctor's,  for  those  of  Zebulon  Seaman,  of  Long  Island. 
ALEX.  McDOUGAL,  B.  General. 

I  certify,  that  the  families  of  B.  Birdsall  and  Zebulon  Sea- 
man, with  their  furniture,  effects  and  provisions,  may  be  per- 
mitted to  pass  to  Peekskill,  in  exchange  for  Peter  Corney  and 
W.  Proctor,  with  their  families,  furniture,  effects  and  provis- 
ions. ROB'T  PIGOTT,  M.  G. 

New-  York,  ApHl  16,  '77. 

We,  the  subscribers,  do  certify  that  Peter  Corney  has 
shown  us  the  above  permission,  and  has  offered  to  procure  a 
flag  of  truce  and  escort  us  and  our  families  to  Peekskill,  with 
our  apparel,  furniture,  effects  and  provisions,  and  there  dehver 
us  to  our  husbands ;  but  as  we  find  it  inconvenient  to  remove, 
not  being  able  to  support  the  expense,  and  are  here  in  a  state 


168  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

of  security,  unmolested  by  the  King's  troops,  we  must  decline 
the  offer.  FREELOVE  BIRDSALL. 

Benj.  Seaman,  i  j,   . 

Clement  C.  Clarke,  \         ' 
Oyster  Bay,  April  21,  '77. 

JEAN  SEAMAN. 
MicAH  Williams,  >  rp   . 
Jacob  Jackson,      \ 
Hempstead,  April  21,  '77. 

Fairfield,  July  3,  '77.  Capt.  Thorpe  says,  "  I  sailed  from 
Guilford  last  Sabbath  day,  with  a  flag  of  truce  to  transport  Mrs. 
Hannah  and  Miss  Ruth,  wife  and  daughter  of  Nicholas  Brown, 
to  [North]  Hempstead,  on  Long  Island,  and  arrived  there  on 
Monday ;  and  was  informed  by  an  officer  and  justice  of  the 
peace  that  they  had  strict  orders  not  to  permit  any  flag  to  be 
received  any  where  on  the  Island,  and  advised  me  to  proceed 
to  the  sloop  Scorpion,  Capt.  Brown,  who  said  I  must  immedi- 
ately return  back  and  carry  the  women  with  me  ;  and  added; 
if  any  more  came  he  should  treat  them  as  spies." 

Scorpion,*  off  New  City  Island. 

No  flags  of  truce  are  in  future  to  pass  between  Connecti- 
cut and  Long  Island,  without  the  special  license  of  the  Gene- 
ral commanding  his  Majesty's  forces,  nor  any  correspondence 
by  letter  or  otherwise  permitted.  Flags  of  truce  are  in  future 
to  be  consigned  to  New- York  only. 

By  order  of  Viscount  Howe, 

PHILIP  BROWN. 

*  The  Scorpion  and  her  tender  lay  at  Plum  Beach  in  1780,  and  were 
frozen  in.  The  Chaplain  had  services  on  board  every  Sunday,  vv'hich 
the  inhabitants  from  the  Necks  were  invited  to  attend.  In  1781  she  was 
used  as  a  prison  ship  at  the  Wallabout. — Ed. 

Sept.,  1777.  The  Governor  of  Connecticut  permits  Mrs. 
Ketcliam's  family  and  furniture  to  be  exchanged  for  the  wife, 
family  and  household  furniture  of  W.  Ritchie,  at  Cow  Neck — 
Gen.  Silliman  to  send  a  flag  for  that  purpose,  at  their  mutual 
expense. — Hinman^s  Conn. 

293.  Aug.  6,  '77,  Gaine.  Last  Wednesday  morning,  two 
wood  boats  from  Long  Island,  were  taken  by  a  rebel  privateer 


NORTH    HEMPSTEAD. 


169 


in  the  Sound,  near  Hempstead  Harbor,  and  carried  into  Nor- 
walk. 

293a.  Aug.  4,  '77,  Gaine.  40s.  reward.  Taken  out  of  the 
pasture  of  Timothy  Smith,  Hempstead  Harbor,  a  bay  mare, 
snip  nose,  something  crooked,  or  turns  to  one  nostril,  a  natural 
trotter,  and  can  pace  a  slow  travel,  and  canter. 

294.  Sept._  12,  '77,  Holt.  Two  armed  whale  boats  from 
Middletown,  took  two  sloops,  one  at  anchor  in  Cow  Bay,  of  50 
tons ;  another,  a  small  craft  lying  in  the  Sound — brought  safe 
into  Connecticut  river. 

295.  Oct.  20,  '77,  Gaine.  A  whale  boat  with  10  men,  from 
Byram  River,  took  a  wood  boat  (Oct.  5)  from  Hempstead  Har- 
bor out  into  the  Sound,  and  returned  for  two  others  that  lay 
there  ready  loaded,  but  a  few  militia  getting  together,  obliged 
them  to  row  off  with  speed. 

296.  April  16,  '78,  Holt.  Last  Saturday  night,  15  men  of 
Col.  Meig's  regiment,  under  Lt.  Lay,  crossed  from  Horse  Neck 
to  Long  Island,  and  cut  two  sloops  out  of  Hempstead  Harbor, 
bound  to  New- York.  One  was  deeply  laden  with  wood,  the 
other  with  vegetables,  which  they  brought  safe  to  Horse  Neck 
and  unloaded.     They  also  took  4  prisoners. 

[Thomas  Dodge  was  once  a  passenger  and  sat  in  the 
cabin  when  a  boat  was  taken.  Hearing  a  noise,  he  tried  to 
get  on  deck,  but  found  he  was  fastened  down.  He  then  sang 
out,  "  what  are  you  about  up  there  ?  open  the  door  and  let  me 
come  up,  or  else  come  down  yourselves,  and  let's  drink  for  bet- 
ter acquaintance."  The  captors  came  down,  and  were  treated 
with  a  bottle  of  spirits  from  Dodge's  provision  basket.  They  had 
a  jolly  time  of  it,  and  on  Dodge's  arrival  at  Horse  Neck  he 
found  many  old  friends,  and  was  allowed  to  return  on  parole, 
which  exempted  him  from  the  fatigues  of  militia  duty,  (which 
consisted  in  frequent  trainings  and  patrolling  the  coast  at  night,) 
till  he  was  exchanged. — Ed.^ 

297.  May  25,  '78,  Gaine.  On  Saturday  evening,  16th,  with 
up-sun,  a  boat  from  Connecticut,  with  a  4  pounder,  came  to 
Sands's  Point,  and  stripped  a  boat  that  lay  there  of  all  her  sails 
and  rigging,  and  went  off  unmolested. 


170  ARMED    OCCCPATION. 

298.  Aug.  24,  '78,  Gaitie.  For  sale,  the  sloop  Christian,  a 
wide  flat  vessel,  built  on  Long  Island,  for  the  wood  and  hay 
business,  50  tons,  mounts  5  swivels. 

299.  Sept.  7,  '78,  Gaine.  Stolen  or  strayed  from  the  pas- 
ture of  Joseph  Greswold.  north  side  of  Hempstead  Plains,  a 
dun-colored  gelding.  A  suitable  reward  will  be  paid  by  Mr. 
NicoUs. 

300.  May  10,  '79,  Gaine.  John  Houlroyd  begs  leave  to  in- 
form his  friends  and  the  public  in  general,  that  he  lives  at  the 
Three  Tons,  north  side  of  Hempstead  Plains,  about  one  mile 
from  Herricks,  where  gentlemen,  travellers  and  others,  may 
expect  the  best  entertainment  for  man  and  horse. 

July  19.  Gentlemen  who  choose  to  divert  themselves  in 
the  plovering  season,  will  meet  with  genteel  treatment,  and  the 
best  wines. 

301.  A/ay  31,  79,  Gaine.  A  party  of  rebels  from  Connecti- 
cut came  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Samuel  Herrold,  of  Hempstead 
Harbor,  last  Tuesday  night,  and  robbed  his  shop  of  goods  to 
the  amount  of  about  £60,  and  then  took  to  their  whale  boats  and 
rowed  across  the  sound. 

302.  July  7,  '79.  Gaine.  Five  guineas  reward.  Ran  away 
from  James  Smith,  Herricks,  2  negro  men,  Caesar  and  Jack, 
supposed  to  be  with  the  army  or  on  board  some  ship. 

303.  JuneSO,  '79,  Riv.  Last  Thursday  night,  about  30  rebels 
came  over  from  Connecticut  to  Cow  Neck  in  three  whale  boats, 
and  plundered  the  house  of  Stephen  Thome  of  many  valuable 
articles,  and  at  the  same  time  part  of  them  surrounded  the 
house  of  Edward  Thorne,  his  son,  Avhich  they  also  rifled.  For- 
tunately both  these  gentlemen  were  abroad  that  night,  which 
prevented  their  being  carried  into  captivity.  In  the  house  of 
E'd  Thorne  they  found  Capt.  Lewis  McDonald,*  a  gentleman 
banished  from  Bedford,  West  Chester  county,  by  the  rebel  le- 
gislature. [He  had  once  been  a  committee-man.]  Him  they  rob- 
bed of  such  ctfects  as  their  demagogues  had  permitted  him  to 
bring  with  him,  broke  open  his  chest,  from  which  they  extract- 
ed about  X70  in  gold  and  silver  and  York  currency  of  the  old 
emission,  depriving  him  of  the  most  valuable  part  of  his  cloth- 


NORTH    HEMPSTEAD.  171 

ing,  but  disdained  to  accept  of  £400  in  Congress  dollars,  of 
which  they  found  him  possessed. 

*  July  19,  '80,  Eiv.  Two  half  joes  reward.  Stolen  from  the  pasture 
of  Stephen  Cornell,  Hempstead,  14th  inst.,  an  iron  grey  horse. 

LEWIS  McDonald. 

304.  July  31,  '79.  Riv.  About  Tuesday  last,  W|||^Snttnn 
Esq.,  formerly  of  Maroneck.  was  carried  off  from  CowNeck  by 
a  party  of  rebels  from  the  Main.  The  guards  and  refugees  in 
the  vicinity  immediately  assembled  to  rescue  him,  fired  on  the 
whale  boats  in  which  he  was  prisoner,  and  certainly  did  execu- 
tion, as  several  of  the  rebels  were  seen  to  drop. 

305.  Aug.  25,  '79,  Riv.  On  Monday  morning  last,  between 
12  and  2,  a  party  of  rebels  under  A.  Cornell,  plundered  the 
houses  of  Col.  and  Judge  Ludlow,  at  Hempstead  Plains.  They 
landed,  it  is  supposed,  upwards  of  50  men  from  seven  whale- 
boats,  at  the  west  side  of  Cow  Neck,  [at  Mitchell's  Landing,] 
and  proceeded  with  30  of  their  gang  on  this  piratical  business. 
As  Col.  Ludlow  was  at  Lloyd's  Neck,  and  the  Judge  had  the 
precaution  to  sleep  from  home,  [or  as  some  say,  to  escape 
through  the  scuttle  to  the  roof  and  hide  behind  a  chimney,] 
they  failed  in  one  part  of  their  errand.  In  the  other  they  but 
too  well  succeeded,  and  by  dint  of  expedition,  got  off  with  their 
booty.  [They  seized  and  rode  the  horses  of  A.  O.,  and  to 
avoid  observation,  left  the  road,  threw  down  fences,  and  went 
across  lots.  The  design  in  carrying  off  the  Col.  and  Judge  was 
to  exchange  them  for  Whig  prisoners  of  equal  rank. — Ed.'] 

306.  Oct.  2,  '79,  Riv.  The  sloop  Sally,  Sept.  28,  laden 
with  provisions  for  His  Majesty's  sloop  Swift,  between  City 
Island  and  Oyster  Bay.  was  chased  on  shore  by  two  whale 
boats,  but  the  armed  Brigantine  Edward,  Capt.  J.  Peebles,  mas- 
ter, stationed  in  Hempstead  Bay,*  retook  the  Sally  and  her  pro- 
visions, with  a  new  7  oared  boat  having  a  swivel  and  11  mus- 
kets, killed  3  men  and  took  several  prisoners.  [Capt.  Peebles 
was  himself  subsequently  taken  by  surprise,  and  was  succeeded 
by  the  Ranger,  which  lay  till  the  peace  at  the  Deep  Hole  out- 
side the  beach. — Ed.]    *  In  June  '79,  she  lay  in  the  East  River. 

307.  Nov.  6,  1779.  Riv.  New  Market  Races,  Hempstead 
Plains,  on  Wednesday.     A  purse  of  20  guineas :   the  best  of 


172  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

three  two-mile  circular  heats.  Free  for  any  horse  except  Dul- 
cimore. 

Also  a  bet  of  100  guineas,  one  two-mile  heat,  Cyrus  and 
Doctor. 

A  match  between  the  noted  horse  Dulcimore  and  the  roan 
gelding  Kettlebander,  for  400  guineas,  two  miles. 

God  save  the  King. 

308.  May  5,  '80.  New  Market  Races.  Will  be  run  for, 
June  4,  the  Hunters'  subscription  purse,  and  sweepstakes  of 
10  guineas  each.  June  5,  the  ladies  and  gentlemen's  subscrip- 
tion purse  and  sweepstakes  of  10  guineas  each.  June  6,  a 
whip  to  be  run  for,  presented  by  the  sportsmen  of  the  army 
and  navy,  and  the  name  of  the  winning  horse  to  be  engraved 
on  it. 

No  horse  that  has  not  been  a  fortnight  in  training  on  Hemp- 
stead Course  to  run. 

309.  May  27,  '80.  Sir— You  are  hereby  ordered  to  pas- 
ture four  horses  for  the  Q,uarter  Master  General's  depart- 
ment till  further  orders.  JOHN  WOOLLEY,  Capt. 

Richard  Thorne.* 

*  Major  Thome  was  robbed  four  times  during  the  war.  Once  his 
back  was  cruelly  cut  down  with  a  knife  and  his  wife  put  under  guard,  to 
extort  a  confession  where  his  money  was  hid.  Another  time,  his  wife 
contrived  to  keep  a  bag  of  money  concealed  in  the  folds  of  her  gown. 
At  one  time  all  their  clothing  and  many  moveables  were  carried  off.  A 
clock,  screwed  to  the  wall,  was  left  only  because  the  robbers  had  not 
patience  to  unscrew  it.  The  Major  had  two  sloops  (one  the  Bachelor) 
taken  from  his  dock.  To  escape  further  depredations  from  whale  boats, 
he  removed  to  Success. — {See  118.) — Ed. 

310.  Aug.  2,  '80.  Riv.  Last  Saturday  night  a  party  of 
rebels  from  the  Main  (one  was  Ob.  Wall)  landed  on  Long 
Island,  robbed  the  house  of  John  Holroyd,  Hempstead  Plains, 
[since  S.  Armstrong's,]  of  elfects  to  the  value  of  several  hundred 
pounds.  They  afterwards  stopped  Mrs.  Trcdwell,  spouse  of 
Dr.  T.,  on  her  return  from  the  city,  [in  a  chaise  with  her  son 
Adam,]  and  robbed  her  of  effects  to  the  value  of  £30.  At  the 
same  time  [it  was  dusk]  they  seized  a  market  wagon  [of  Henry 
Post  and  Richard  Titus,  storekeepers,]  in  which  was  mer- 


NORTH    HEMPSTEAD.  173 

chandise  valued  at  upwards  of  £80.  In  that  carriage  they 
conveyed  all  their  booty  to  Hempstead  Harbor,  [Littleworth,] 
where  they  embarked  in  two  whale  boats.  The  militia  were 
alarmed,  and  twenty  of  them,  well  accoutred,  pursued  the 
plunderers  with  all  possible  speed,  but  arrived  at  the  place  of 
embarkation  too  late,  [but  heard  the  oars.  To  prevent  detec- 
tion, the  persons  robbed  were  all  confined  up  stairs,  till  the 
guard  judged  his  confederates  were  beyond  the  reach  of  pursuit, 
when  he  mounted  Mrs.  T.'s  horse  and  galloped  after. — It  was  not 
unusual  for  Avhale  boatmen  to  waylay  travellers  from  New-York 
by  secreting  themselves  in  some  house  near  the  road.] — Ed. 

311.  Sept.  18,  '80.  Gaine.  Two  guineas  reward.  Stolen 
out  of  Judge  Ludlow's  stable,  at  Hempstead,  on  the  night  of 
August  7,  a  sorrel  horse,  &c. 

Gary  Ludlow,  Esq.,  Jamaica. 

312.  Jan.  25,  '81.  Last  week  two  vessels  loaded  with 
wood,  were  taken  off  [N.]  Hempstead  by  two  whale  boats ; 
one  was  armed  with  two  four-pounders,  six  swivels,  a  cohorn, 
&c.,  had  six  hands,  who  engaged  the  boats,  and  did  not 
surrender  till  the  captain  was  badly  wounded  in  his  head. 
Two  men  were  wounded  on  board  the  boats.  The  prizes  are 
got  into  port. 

313.  May  16,  '81.  Several  whale  boats  from  Horse  Neck, 
intending  a  descent  on  Long  Island,  were  intercepted,  and  39 
prisoners  taken. 

314.  July  4,  '81,  Riv.  On  Saturday  night  last  40  rebels 
landed  at  the  bottom  of  Cow  Neck,  20  of  whom  marched  four 
miles,  to  the  house  of  Justice  Kissam,  and  took  off  Major  Kis- 
sam.  of  the  Queens  county  militia,  his  younger  brother,  Benj. 
T.  Kissam,  and  Thomas  Pearsall,  a  refugee.  Mr.  Fitch,  their 
commander,  behaved  with  great  civility  to  Mrs.  Kissam,  not 
suffering  his  men  to  go  into  the  room  where  Mrs.  Townsend, 
an  old  lady,  mother  to  Justice  Kissam,  was  in  bed.  The 
plunder  they  carried  off  was  but  trifling.  They  also  took  one 
Alexander  Haines,  [a  guard?]  whom  they  found  sleeping 
under  a  tree  near  where  they  landed.  Justice  K.  and  his 
second  son  were  absent  from  home.  The  rebels  made  partic- 
ular inquiry  after  them. 


174  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

315.  About  12  o'clock  Saturday  night  the  door  of  Hendrick 
Onderdonk,  at  Hempstead  Harbor,  (now  Dan'l  Bogart's,)  was 
forced  open  with  a  bayonet.  Andrew,  his  son.  hearing  the 
noise,  met  the  robbers  at  the  door,  receiv-ed  a  cut  in  his  fore- 
head, when  he  extricated  himself  and  made  his  way  through 
the  east  door,  crossed  the  creek  and  ran  to  John  Rogers', 
blacksmith,  and  gave  the  alarm.  Meantime  the  robbers  found 
a  gold  watch  and  other  articles.  A  mug  of  gold  pieces  in  a 
cupboard  escaped  their  search.  Some  of  the  most  costly  goods 
had  been  taken  from  the  store  and  purposely  distributed  about 
the  house.  The  robbers  went  up  stairs,  Mrs.  O.  resolutely 
following  and  telling  them  not  to  go  in  such  a  room,  as  her 
daughters  were  there.  They  hastily  picked  up  some  rolls  of 
fine  goods  and  velvet,  put  them  under  their  arms  and  hur- 
ried down  stairs,  Mrs.  O.  following  at  their  heels,  pulling  away 
a  piece  now  and  then,  till  they  got  out  of  the  house. — There 
was  a  number  of  active  young  men  in  the  harbor,  and  the  sol- 
diers had  no  mind  to  wait  and  have  a  brush  with  them.  They 
pretended  to  be  whale  boatmen,  were  disguised,  and  had  their 
faces  painted.  The  robbers  were  soon  discovered,  for  an  un- 
lucky soldier  billeted  at  Searing  Town  wore  a  stolen  slioc  that 
Jack  Golder  (who  was  making  shoes  at  the  same  house) 
recognized  as  one  he  had  made  at  H.  O.'s  with  locust  pegs, 
when  his  maple  fell  short.  An  investigation  took  place,  and 
the  stolen  property  was  found  in  the  possession  of  Col.  Lud- 
low's men,  billeted  at  Herricks. — Ed. 

316.  Poughkeepsie,  Nov.  30,  1781. 
Sir — The  bearer,  Mr.  Cornell,  informs  me  we  have  friends 

on  Long  Island,  who  have  expressed  a  desire  of  advancing  a 
sum  of  money  for  tlie  use  of  the  State,  if  they  could  be  assur- 
ed it  would  be  acceptable.  I  may  venture  to  assure  you  it  will 
be  rendering  your  country  an  essential  service  ;  and  that  the 
most  effectual  measures  are  adopted  by  the  State  to  secure 
such  as  shall  in  this  way  become  creditors  of  the  public. 
1  am,  witii  great  esteem, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

GEO.  CLINTON. 
CoL.  John  Sands,  Cow  Nec/t\  L.  I. 


NORTH    HEMPSTEAD.  175 

State  of  New-  York,  ss.  I  hereby  pledge  the  faith  of  said 
State  for  the  re-payment  of  the  sum  of  one  thousand  pounds, 
current  money  of  said  State,  in  specie,  with  interest,  at  the 
rate  of  six  per  cent,  per  annum,  to  John  Sands,  Esq.,  or  order, 
within  one  year  after  the  conclusion  of  the  present  war  with 
Great  Britain. 

Given  at  Poughkeepsie,  this  1st  day  of  June,  1782. 
Witness,  Geo.  Trimble.  GEO.  CLINTON. 

[Of  the  above  sum,  Maj.  R.  Thorne  furnished  £200;  John 
Thorne,  £200;  John  Sands,  £400;  and  Daniel  Whitehead 
Kissam,  £200.] 

Maj.  Hendrick  Wyckoff.  of  New  Lots,  carried  over  large 
sums.  The  plan  he  usually  adopted,  says  Gen.  Johnson,  was 
this.  He  crossed  the  Sound  from  Connecticut,  secreted  him- 
self at  Cow  Neck,  (usually  at  Peter  Onderdonk's,)  then  went 
by  night  to  the  west  end  of  Long  Island.  He  had  blank  notes, 
signed  by  Gov.  Clinton.  These  he  filled  up  to  certain  indi- 
viduals for  such  sums  as  he  received.  When  he  had  a  load 
(for  he  had  to  carry  specie)  he  returned  stealthily  to  Mr.  O.'s, 
and  so  re-crossed  the  Sound.  These  notes  were  paid  after 
the  peace.  B.  Sands  also  crossed  the  Sound  in  a  row  boat  with 
gold  in  a  belt  around  his  body.  A  guard  received  him  on  the 
Main  and  conveyed  the  money  to  Clinton.* — Ed. 

*  James  Jay  was  taken  and  put  in  Provost,  April  17,  '82.  He  had 
papers  from  Gov.  Clinton,  authorizing  him  to  borrow  money  from  New- 
York  city,  or  Long  Island.     I\Iaj.  Brush  also  borrowed  in  Suffolk. — Ed. 

317.  Jan.  23,  '82,  Biv.  Died  of  dysentery,  at  Col.  Wurmb's 
quarters,  Westbury,  Lieut.  Forbes,  who  was  interred  near  the 
meeting  house.  His  funeral  was  attended  by  all  th^  Hessian 
officers,  and  part  of  the  17th  Light  Dragoons,  who  paid  the 
deceased  military  honors.  Burial  service  at  the  grave  by  the 
chaplain  of  the  Lion  ship  of  war. 

318.  July  20,  '82,  Biv.  At  auction,  July  22d,  at  the  Wind- 
mill Tavern,  north  side  of  Hempstead  Plains,  a  number  of 
horses,  large  and  small  wagons  and  carts,  with  harnesses,  lately 
discharged  out  of  government  service. 

319.  Julij  31,  '82,  Biv.  Strayed  from  Col.  Wurmb's,  at  the 
camp,  on  Windmill  Plains,  a  mare,  marked  G.  E.  D.  R. 


176  ARMED   OCCUPATION. 

320.  Aug.  20,  '82,  Biv.  Two  guineas  reward.  Run  away 
from  Dr.  David  Brooks,  at  Cow  Neck,  a  negro  boy,  Ben.  He 
had  on  a  brown  coat,  pewter  buttons,  round  black  hat. 

321.  Aug.  28,  '82,  Biv.  Last  week  a  store  north  side  of 
Hempstead  Plains,  was  robbed  of  goods  and  cash  to  the 
amount  of  more  than  £1200,  by  persons  unknown.  [Was  this 
R.  Townsend's?— Ed.] 

322.  Oct.  9,  '82,  Biv.  On  Sunday  evening,  Sept.  29,  a 
party  of  Skinners  landed  in  a  whale  boat  at  Cow  Neck,  robbed 
two  families  of  the  name  of  Hewlett,*  and  committed  several 
other  acts  of  violence.  Some  inhabitants  suspecting  where 
they  landed,  captured  their  boat  and  keeper,  Avhich  the  Skin- 
ners soon  came  to  the  knowledge  of,  when  they  took  the  route 
to  Butler's  Creek,  at  Oyster  Bay,  where  they  seized  a  boat 
and  escaped  to  the  Main,  with  the  loss  of  only  one  of  their 
party. 

*  Only  one  was  robbed,  as  appears  by  the  dying  confession  of  Richard 
Barrick,  hung  at  Cambridge,  Mass,  Nov.  18,  '84,  for  highway  robbery. 

"  In  England  I  was  apprehended  on  a  suspicion  of  robbery,  and  sent 
on  board  a  vessel,  [the  Liverpool,  wrecked  on  Rockaway  Beach,  Feb.  15, 
78,]  in  which  I  came  to  New-York.  Then  I  deserted  and  came  to 
Long  Island  and  lived  ^v'ith  Mr.  Valentine  Williams.  I  left  him  and 
lived  with  Mr.  Kirk  fifteen  months,  intending  to  learn  the  paper  making 
business.  I  left  Mr.  Kirk  and  went  to  Horse  Neck,  intending  to  go  to 
the  place  whence  I  came,  and  follow  my  old  trade  of  basket  making. 
Soon  after  this,  I  and  my  comrades  went  to  Long  Island  with  an  intent 
to  rob  James  Hewlett :  but  the  weather  being  very  severe,  we  turned 
back.  On  our  return,  we  met  with  a  British  vessel,  which  we  boarded 
and  carried  into  Stamford.  We  then  went  back  to  Mr.  Hewlett's  in  the 
night,  and  told  him  he  must  get  up,  for  his  brother's  child  was  very  sick. 
He  supposing  us  to  be  robbers,  called  for  his  firelock.  We  then  forced 
in  at  the  windows,  and  demanded  his  money.  He  said  he  had  none  ; 
but  his  wife  asked  us  how  much  we  wanted.  I  answered,  i^lOO.  Mr. 
H.  then  went  down  cellar  with  a  light  in  his  hand,  and  we  followed  him. 
He  took  a  horn  from  under  a  hogshead,  which  contained  190  odd 
guineas.  He  then  attempted  to  count  out  our  .£100,  which  we  had 
demanded  ;  but  we  told  him  as  he  had  made  some  resistance  at  first,  we 
would  take  all  he  had.  He  then  gave  us  another  horn,  which  contained 
about  40  guineas:  then  he  gave  us  a  number  of  dollars.    We  went  out  of 


NORTH    HEMPSTEAD.  177 

the  house,  but  soon  concluded  that  if  he  had  so  many  guineas,  it  was 
more  than  probable  he  had  some  other  sort  of  gold  :  we  therefore  went 
back  and  demanded  the  remainder.  Then  he  gave  us  another  horn, 
containing  32  half  joes.  We  also  took  his  plate  and  clothing,  to  the 
value  of  $400.  Soon  after  this,  I  was  taken  and  put  under  guard  on 
Long  Island.  The  Col.  ordered  me  from  Long  Island  to  New-York 
gaol  for  trial ;  where  I  remained  three  weeks,  and  then  broke  gaol.  I 
returned  to  Greenwich,  and  was  there  re-taken  for  the  same  crime  and 
carried  back  to  New-York,  I  broke  out  a  second  time,  and  returned  to 
Greenwich."  *  *  *  » 

323.  Oct.  26,  '82,  Riv.  On  Thursday  evening,  about  20  rebels 
landed  near  Cow  Neck,  attacked  the  houses  of  James  Burr 
and  John  Burtis,  blacksmith,  killed  Burr  and  robbed  his  store 
of  every  thing  valuable ;  but  in  the  attack  of  Burtis,  their 
leader,  a  Capt.  Martin,  of  Massachusetts,  (with  his  commission 
in  his  pocket,)  was  killed.  They  carried  off  three  of  their 
party,  supposed  to  be  badly  wounded. 

[There  were  two  whale  boats,  with  muffled  oars.  The  men 
landed  at  Thome's  dock  (now  Judge  Kissam's,)  and  proceeded 
to  Burr's  store,  (now  H.  Morrell's,)  Manhasset  Valley.  Burr 
had  been  robbed  once  before,  and  slept  in  the  store  with  his 
gun  ready  loaded.  As  soon  as  they  demanded  admittance,  he 
fired.  Judging  of  his  position  by  the  report,  the  robbers  fired 
diagonally  through  the  front  corners  of  the  store.  Burr 
received  a  ball  in  his  body,  went  to  the  bedside,  told  his  little 
brother  he  was  a  dead  man,  and  fell. 

Being  unable  to  force  open  the  door,  the  robbers  ripped  off 
the  boards  and  entered  through  the  side  of  the  store,  and  load- 
ed themselves  with  goods.  As  they  returned,  and  were  round- 
ing the  corner  of  Burtis's  shop,  west  of  the  house  now  Dr. 
Purdy's,  David  Jervis,  an  apprentice  boy,  fired  on  them,  one 
after  another,  from  the  second  story,  Mr.  Burtis  loading  the 
guns  and  Molly,  his  wife,  handing  powder.  In  this,  way  sev- 
eral were  wounded,  till  at  last  came  their  leader,  Capt.  Martin, 
staggering  under  an  enormous  load  of  goods,  who  received  a 
buckshot  in  the  centre  of  his  forehead,  and  had  his  breast  also 
tattooed  with  shot.  Throwing  down  his  carbine,  he  stumbled 
up  the  hill  north  of  Dr.  Purdy's,  dropping  his  load  by  the  way, 
and  fell  down  dead  on  the  iumrait,  where  his  body  was  die- 


178  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

covered  by  George  O.  The  firing  alarmed  the  neighbors, 
who  had  now  assembled  in  great  numbers.  Before  it  was  yet 
day,  J.  O.  was  dispatched  for  Major  Kissam,  who  came  and 
held  an  examination.  In  Martin's  pocket-book  were  found  a 
list  of  his  crew,  and  a  captain's  commission  from  the  State  of 
Massachusetts,  authorizing  him  '•  to  cruise  against  the  enemies 
of  the  United  States,"  but  not  to  go  on  land. 

Capt.  Martin's  clothes,  shoes  with  silver  buckles,  and 
watch,  together  with  the  guns  dropped  in  the  flight,  were  given 
to  Jervis.  He  was  also  presented  with  a  pair  of  new  pistols, 
as  a  reward  for  his  heroic  daring. 

Jervis  had  on  a  previous  occasion  beat  off  a  party  of  whale 
boatmen,  and  wounded  one  Jim  Brown. 

Martin's  body  was  buried  in  a  corner  of  Martin  Schenck's 
land,  south  of  the  Episcopal  church.  The  rest  of  the  gang 
escaped  to  their  boats,  which  were  seen  by  J.  O.  during  the 
alarm  of  the  firing  slowly  dropping  down  the  bay  to  a  precon- 
certed spot,  probably  Mitchell's  landing.  The  night  was  over- 
cast. J.  O.,  a  lad  of  sixteen,  was  sent  with  a  gun  in  the  young 
locust  north-east  of  his  father's  house  (now  C.  Pearsall's)  to 
fire  an  alarm  in  case  the  house  was  attacked,  when  a  fellow 
ran  up  to  him,  crying  out,  "  D — n  their  blood,  they've  wounded 
me  ! "  On  discovering  his  mistake,  he  made  off,  and  was  out 
of  sight  in  an  instant. 

Capt.  Martin  had  been  a  lucky  fellow,  as  appears  by  the 
following  captures. — Ed. 

July  4,  '82.  St.  Martin  and  Reynolds  Finch  took  a  small  boat 
anfl  two  schooners,  with  their  cargoes,  and  several  small  boats  and  their 
cargoes,  engaged  in  the  illicit  trade  in  Long  Island  Sound. 

Aug.  2,  '82.  St.  Martin  and  others  took  the  schooner  Scape, 
Nath.  Porter,  master,  80  tons,  loaded  with  wood  ;  two  small  sloops,  15 
tons  each,  the  Good  Intent,  J.  Avery  master,  and  a  whale  boat,  Jesse 
Soper  master,  loaded  with  British  goods — all  taken  in  the  Sound. 

Sept.  IG,  '82.  St.  Martin  took  two  schooners  and  their  cargoes, 
Polly  and  Betsey,  of  50  and  40  tons  each. 

324.  Before  Dec.  3,  '82,  the  Dolphin,  John  Thorne,  Jr.,  was 
captured  in  Long  Island  Sound. 

325.  Ap.  19,  '83,  Riv.  Persons  having  any  demands  against 
Lt.  Saltonstall,  of  the  Royal  Welch  Fusileers,  [or  23d  Reg't  of 


NORTH    HEMPSTEAD.  179 

Foot]  will  give  in  their  accounts  to  Capt.  Peter,  paymaster,  at 
Herrick's. 

326.  Ap.  28,  '83,  Gaine.  A  match  for  200  guineas.  May 
29,  over  New  Market  course,  Hempstead  Plains,  between  John 
Talman's  Eclipse  and  Jacob  Jackson's  Young  Slow  and  Easy, 
the  best  two  in  three  four  mile  heats. 

327.  On  a  fine  moonlight  evening.  May  13. 1783,  six  whale- 
boatmen  landed  at  the  cleft  near  the  house  of  John  Mitchell. 
They  lay  concealed  in  his  nursery  till  the  guard  left  the  house 
and  the  family  had  retired  to  rest,  when  they  broke  open  the 
front  door  with  a  stone  as  large  as  a  man  could  well  manage. 
As  they  pushed  open  the  door  leading  from  the  hall  to  the  room 
where  Mr.  Mitchell  slept,  he  fired  through  the  door  and 
wounded  a  man.  The  robbers  also  fired,  but  missed.  Then 
they  forced  open  the  door  and  beat  Mr.  Mitchell  and  his  aged 
father  on  the  head  with  the  butt  end  of  their  muskets.  They 
at  length  escaped  from  the  robbers,  and  ran  for  aid  to  Israel 
Baxter's,  where  the  guard  had  gone.  Benj.  M.  then  came 
down  stairs,  and  as  he  looked  in  the  door,  one  of  the  robbers, 
named  Jackson,  who  had  lived  in  the  family,  asked  him  '•  if  he 
knew  him."  Benjamin  repHed,  "  Yes."  '•  Then  you  never 
shall  again."  He  was  then  seized  and  led  out  in  front  of  the 
house,  and  (though  he  told  them  he  was  but  a  boy)  shot 
through  the  body  with  two  balls,  by  Jackson,  while  an  accom- 
plice held  their  victim  fast.  The  mother  heard  the  fatal  report. 
She  also,  as  she  stood  with  an  infant  in  her  arms,  was  seized, 
and  beaten  till  she  fainted. 

The  villains  had  now  become  so  alarmed,  that  they  gave 
up  all  hopes  of  plunder,  and  fled  before  the  father  could  return 
with  the  guard.  A  dead  body  was  discovered  on  the  ground, 
supposed  to  be  one  of  the  robbers,  but  a  closer  examination  re- 
vealed the  shocking  truth.  He  gave  signs  of  life,  but  never 
spoke.  A  pistol  lay  near  him  that  had  been  broken  by  a  blow 
on  the  side  of  his  head. 

The  afflicted  father  was  unsparing  in  his  efforts  to  bring 
these  villains  to  justice.  Two  were  some  time  after  seized  in 
a  marauding  expedition  in  the  brushwood  on  Hog  Island,  and 
put  under  guard  at  Searingtown,  but  they  contrived  to  escape. 


180  AKi\l£.l>    OCCtJPATlOJN. 

Two  years  after,  Jackson  was  hung  at  St.  John's,  and  while 
under  the  gallows  was  very  contrite  for  his  sins,  and  said  "  there 
was  only  one  thing  he  dared  not  hope  pardon  for — that  was  the 
murder  of  Benjamin  Mitchell." 

328.  May  17,  '83,  Riv.  Those  inhabitants  that  have  any 
demands  against  Ensign  Vockerrorth,  of  the  Hessian  Regi- 
ment de  Knoblauch,  will  bring  them  before  the  court  martial 
of  said  regiment,  at  Herricks,  by  June  6. 

F.  A.  HUBER,  Judge  Advocate. 
DePORBECK,  Col  and  ComdH. 

329.  Ob.  Valentine,  born  on  Long  Island,  but  residing  in 
Connecticut,  charged  before  Judge  Ludlow  of  breaking  into 
the  house  of  P.  SnifTen,  Hempstead  Harbor,  was  in  the  Pro- 
vost from  May  28,  '83,  till  the  evacuation. — Riv. 

330.  Israel  Baxter  had  two  market  boats  cut  out  of  Cow 
Bay,  and  a  wood  sloop  taken  off  Success  Rock.  She  was 
boarded  through  the  cabin  windows.  The  captain  was  not  on 
board  and  the  hands  made  little  or  no  resistance. 

Once  off  Hewlett's  Point  Capt.  B.  was  becalmed.  Sud- 
denly some  whale  boats  rowed  up,  fired  and  riddled  his  sails. 
He  allowed  them  to  draw  quite  near,  when  he  discharged  his 
swivels  on  them.  The  boats  made  off,  when  some  negroes  on 
the  Long  Island  shore,  attracted  by  the  firing,  hurraed.  This 
was  too  much  for  the  Yankees :  they  put  about  and  fired  a 
blunderbuss  at  the  negroes,  who  fell  down  or  scampered  off, 
and  were  out  of  sight  in  an  instant. 

Capt.  B.  had  a  swivel  mounted  on  a  stump  in  the  pines  on 
the  hill,  overlooking  the  dock  (now  Mill-dam)  where  his  boat 
lay.  Expecting  an  attack  one  night,  he  wound  his  cable 
around  the  rudder,  waited  the  approach  of  the  whale  boats, 
and  then  fired  down  on  them  as  they  were  vainly  trying  to  get 
her  off.  The  men  then  landed  and  tried  to  surround  their  as- 
sailants, but  failed,  though  they  nearly  touched  them  in  the 
dark.     They  then  abandoned  their  j)rize. 

Capt.  St.  Thome  had  two  wood  boats  taken  out  of  Cow 
Bay  in  one  night — one  from  A.  O.'s  landing.  One  of  the  gang 
afterwards  deserted,  and  being  a  worthless  fellow,  charged 
Wm.  Cornwell,  at  whose  house  they  had  stopped,  with  giving 


NO"RTH    HEMPSTEAD.  181 

information.  In  consequence,  Cornwell  had  most  of  his  wood 
cut  off  for  the  King's  use,  and  he  and  Hewlett  Cornwell  were 
put  in  Jamaica  jail.  Adrian  O.  barely  escaped  the  same  fate, 
for  the  fellow  pretended  to  recognize  him  as  one  of  the  Whigs 
present  at  W.  Cornwell's  that  night;  but  he  was  enabled  to 
prove  his  absence  by  the  great  number  of  passengers  w^ho 
were  that  very  night  at  his  house,  intending  to  go  to  New-York 
by  the  sloop  which  wa^  cut  out  in  their  sight  and  hearing. 

Young  St.  Thorne  rode  about  the  Neck  with  the  informer, 
and  called  on  the  principal  Whigs,  with  hopes  of  his  identifying 
them  with  those  said  to  have  been  at  Cornwell's. 

The  whale  boats  were  sometimes  caught  in  a  snare.  Rob't 
Thorne,  innkeeper,  at  Latham's  (now  Mitchell's)  Mill,  had  a 
small  sloop.  Capt.  Jos.  Thorne,*  with  twelve  armed  men,  was 
secreted  in  her  hold.  As  they  rowed  into  the  Soun  ',  a  whale 
boat  put  out  from  Huckleberry  Island.  As  soon  as  she  came 
alongside,  the  armed  men  rushed  on  deck  and  pointed  their 
guns  dow^n  on  the  astonished  crew,  w^ho  instantly  gave  up. 
The  prisoners  were  marched  under  a  guard  of  militia  (of  which 
John  Morrell  was  one)  to  Col.  Hamilton  at  Flushing,  and  thence 
taken  to  the  prison  ship. 

A  whale  boat  attempted  to  take  out  Geo.  Cornell's  sloop 
from  the  east  side  of  Great  Neck,  (B.  WoUey's  landmg.)  A 
party  landed  and  proceeded  along  shore,  keeping  even  with 
their  boat.  John  Morrell,  who,  with  Peter  Baker,  was  on  guard 
that  night,  hearing  a  noise,  but  seeing  nothing,  fired.  Instantly 
he  found  himself  between  two  fires,  but  luckily  escaped.  A 
buttonwood  near  him  was  marked  with  bullets.  The  sloop 
happened  to  be  aground,  and  so  was  saved.  The  men  went 
in  John  Morrell's  house,  who,  making  the  best  of  the  matter,  set 
a  bottle  of  spirits  on  the  table,  of  which  they  good-humoredly 
partook,  and  went  off.  They  also  dropped  in  at  Wm.  Mitch- 
ell's, but  were  not  so  civil. 

*  He  was  a  wagon-maker,  and  kept  a  body  of  refugees  in  his  house, 
(since  St.  Sell's,)  and  usually  had  a  swivel  mounted  over  his  door  to  fire 
down  on  any  assailants. 

331.  Martin  Schenck  was  robbed  once  before  and  once  after 
February.  1782.     The  first  time,  some  of  the  new  raised  corps 


182  AEMED    OCCUPATION. 

at  Herricks  carried  off  great  quantities  of  linen — sixty  shirts 
and  other  articles  of  small  value.  They  took  him  under  a 
tree  and  threatened  to  strangle  him  unless  he  would  give  up 
his  money.  He  was  rescued  by  the  intrepidity  of  his  wife. 
Complaint  was  made  to  the  commanding  officer,  who  had  his 
men  arranged  in  a  circle  for  Schenck  to  point  out  the  oifenders, 
but  as  the  officers  seemed  bent  on  screening*  them,  and  there 
was  much  unfairness  in  the  examination,  no  redress  was  ob- 
tained. 

On  another  evening,  a  knocking  was  heard  at  the  door,  which 
was  incautiously  opened  by  his  niece.  On  seeing  two  men 
with  guns,  their  faces  blackened  and  concealed  by  bonnets,  she 
said,  she  "  hoped  they  meant  no  harm."  "  Oh  no,  only  wanted 
to  see  Mr.  Schenck."  As  she  led  the  way  to  his  bedroom,  one 
of  the  ruffians  followed  and  seized  Schenck  before  he  could  get 
his  gun.  They  then  demanded  his  money.  As  Schenck  was 
edging  off  toward  his  gun,  he  tripped,  when  he  received  a 
musket  blow,  which  disabled  his  arm.  He,  however,  escaped 
to  the  cellar,  whither  they  durst  not  follow.  As  they  left  the 
house,  with  some  trifling  articles  of  plunder,  he  saw  them  turn 
up  the  road  toward  the  meeting-house,  and  caUing  his  slaves 
from  the  barn,  made  chase,  but  to  no  purpose.  They  were 
supposed  to  be  refugees.  The  dogs  in  the  neighborhood  had 
been  shot  a  fortnight  before,  so  that  these  guardians  of  the 
night  might  give  no  alarm. 

*  "  The  provincial  corps,"  or  soldiers  raised  in  America,  were  fre- 
quently abandoned  men,  fugitives  from  justice,  who  enlisted  to  escape 
punishment.  Even  such  recruits  were  hard  to  be  obtained  at  a  high 
bounty  ;  and  if  they  committed  a  crime,  the  officers  were  loth  to  lose 
them  or  give  them  up  to  punishment — to  replace  them  was  so  difficult. 

332.  A  gang  surrounded  the  house  of  Michael  jVIudge  and 
knocked  at  the  door,  when  Daniel,  his  son,  asked  who  was 
there.  "  Friends,"  Avas  the  reply.  The  door  not  being  opened 
immediately,  they  added,  "  It  will  be  better  for  you  lo  let  us  in." 
Thereupon  the  frail  door  was  opened,  when  three  men  entered, 
(one  had  on  a  hair  cap,  drawn  down  and  tied  under  his  chin, 
and  his  face  blackened,)  and  proceeded  to  the  room  of  tlie 
ao-cd  father,  whom  they  beat  unmercifully,  and  run  a  gun- 


i\ORTH    HEMPSTEAD.  183 

muzzle  in  his  cheek  because  he  did  not  tell  where  his  money 
was :  and  in  truth  he  did  not  know,  for  he  had  given  it  to  his 
daughter-in-law,  who  had  it  in  bed  with  her.  He  gave  them 
his  silver  shoe-buckles,  but  because  they  were  plain,  they  sup- 
posed them  to  be  base  metal,  and  threw  them  back  in  his  lace. 
They  then  rummaged  every  part  of  the  house,  went  up  the 
kitchen  stairs,  and  bid  the  negroes  lie  still.  At  last,  to  frighten 
the  rest  of  the  family  into  a  disclosure,  they  brought  the  old  man 
into  his  daughter-in-law's  bedroom,  the  blood  trickling  down 
his  head  behind  both  ears,  and  joining  in  one  stream  under 
his  chin,  so  that  his  throat  seemed  cut.  The  family  then  gave  up. 
A  bag  of  silver  was  brought  forth.  They  opened  it  and  ex- 
claimed, ••  Not  a  single  guinea  !"  Directly  eyeing  a  bag  inad- 
vertently left  under  a  table,  which  proved  to  be  filled  with 
gold,  in  the  rage  of  disappointment  they  dragged  the  daughter- 
in-law  out  of  bed  with  her  infant  in  her  arms.  She  managed, 
however,  to  save  a  part  of  the  remaining  gold.  During  the 
search,  the  robbers  every  now  and  then  went  to  the  door  to 
consult  with  those  outside,  and  returned  with  increased  fury. 
When  they  left,  they  blew  out  the  lights,  and  bid  Daniel  (who 
was  following  to  see  what  road  they  took)  to  stay  in  doors. 
This  gang  was  supposed  to  have  been  harbored  by  John 
Thomas,  who  lived  at  Col.  Sands's,  water-side,  whale  boats 
having  often  been  seen  hid  in  the  bushes  by  his  house. 

333.  Israel  Pearsall  was  twice  beset  by  robbers ;  in  both 
cases  they  had  poor  success,  once  only  carrying  off  some 
spoons  and  linen.  On  one  occasion,  Israel  was  lying  in  his 
bed  in  the  early  part  of  the  evening,  when  word  was  brought 
liim  that  robbers  were  below.  He  ran  for  the  garret,  turned 
the  key  on  the  robbers  while  they  were  yet  at  the  foot  of  the 
stairs,  ran  out  on  the  roof,  got  behind  a  chimney  and  cried 
murder.  It  was  heard  at  D.  Mudge's,  who  fired  an  alarm,  and 
then  it  was  pop  !  pop  !  pop  !  all  over  the  neighborhood  ;  where- 
at the  robbers  hastily  decamped,  vowing  vengeance  to  the  man 
on  the  roof 

Israel  had  a  maiden  sister  who  had  been  at  a  house  in 
Cedar  Swamp  that  this  same  gang  had  previously  robbed. 
She  sang  out  to  them  from  an  upper  window,  "  What  do  you 


184  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

want  ?"     Instantly  recognizing  her  sharp  voice,  they  cried  out, 
"  What  are  you  here,  too  ?" 

334.  To  prevent  robberies,  a  patrol  was  kept  by  the  militia 
along  shore.  This  duty  was  very  laborious.  The  militia  from 
Wolverhollow  were  required  to  patrol  on  the  Sound  and  east 
side  of  Hempstead  Harbor.  One  night  the  patrol  there  heard 
the  whale  boats  rowing,  when  Tunis  Bogart  fired,  and  two 
boats  put  about  instantly.  As  they  neared  Cow  Neck  shore, 
E.  Hegeman,  a  patrol  on  that  side,  also  fired.  One  of  the  crew 
jumped  up,  flapped  his  arms,  and  crowed  out  defiance.  They 
then  returned  to  the  Main  without  effecting  their  design,  which 
was  to  rob  a  store  at  Herricks.  It  was  not  unusual  for  the  whale- 
boatmen  to  make  a  circuitous  overland  march,  so  as  to  escape 
detection  in  case  of  alarm,  for  those  robbed  would  be  apt  to 
take  the  nearest  route  to  the  water-side.  There  was  a  mounted 
Hessian  patrol  also. 

335.  As  all  money  was  of  silver  or  gold,  and  as  there  were 
no  banks  for  safe- keeping,  and  few  opportunities  for  investing, 
each  man  became  his  own  banker.  For  fear  of  robbery,  the 
money  was  buried  in  earthen  vessels,  wrapped  in  paper  and 
hid  under  a  stone,  thrust  behind  a  joist,  or  between  the  roof 
and  rafters,  laid  under  the  hearth,  put  in  a  tea-kettle,  or  se- 
creted in  any  way  that  ingenuity  could  devise.  But  what 
availed  all  this,  if  the  owner  should  unluckily  be  caught  and 
put  to  the  torture  ?  To  escape  this,  men  often  slept  for  months 
in  outhouses,  bushes,  or  obscure  places.  These  treasures  were 
sometimes  forgotten,  or  the  owners  died  before  revealing  the 
secret.  Hence,  for  years,  it  was  not  unusual  to  find  money 
when  tearing  down  old  houses,  removing  fences,  or  digging  in 
cellars. 

336.  It  would  be  impossible  to  narrate  all  the  exploits 
and  outrages  committed  in  North  Hempstead.  Suffice  it  to 
say,  that  Richard  Townsend,  storekeeper,  (now  H.  Titus's,) 
North  Side,  was  carried  off  in  the  night  to  Connecticut  by  a 
party  under  A.  Cornwell,  and  subsequently  paroled.  They 
also  took  off  a  wagon  load  of  his  goods,  which  were  sold  be- 
fore his  eyes. — The  house  of  James  Pool,  and  a  store  kept  in 
on©  of  his  outbuildings,  were  visited  by  a  party  from  the  Main, 


NORTH    HEMPSTEAD.  185 

headed  by  Wright  Craft.  They  left  their  borrrowed  horses 
with  a  sentry  at  the  pond  northwest  of  his  house,  which  they 
loaded  with  booty,  and  returned  in  safety.  Hoyt,  to  prevent 
similar  visits,  built  a  blockhouse;  bullet  proof,  (since  removed  to 
Herricks.)  with  port  holes  in  the  second  story,  in  which  he  kept 
store. — Rich.  Hewlett  was  robbed,  1783  ;  also  Derick  Albertson, 
among  other  articles,  of  his  wedding  shirt. — Tredwell  Smith's 
store,  Searingtown,  was  robbed,  but  most  of  the  goods  were 
found  secreted  in  the  Harbor  Hills. — In  altering  some  fence  of 
A.  O.,  near  the  Friends'  meeting-house,  silver  spoons  marked 
J.  S.  were  found,  evidently  stolen  and  hid  there  by  the  picket 
guard.  They  were  restored  to  John  Searing  on  his  producing 
one  to  match. — Cornelius  Cornwell,  north  of  Success,  (since 
Isaac  Downing's,)  was  robbed  of  $100,  the  property  of  Miss 
Clements,  a  girl  living  in  his  family.  Being  deaf,  he  heard  no 
noise,  but  felt  a  jarring  as  the  soldiers  forced  in  the  door.  He 
sprang  up  and  made  at  them  with  a  trammel  rod,  and  would 
have  beaten  them  off,  but  unluckily  it  broke  across  a  musket 
that  a  soldier  held  up  to  ward  off  the  blow.  They  left  traces 
of  blood  for  a  mile  or  two  from  the  house  in  the  direction  of 
Hempstead. — The  widow  Cornwell.  at  Success  Pond,  (now  S. 
Garretson's,)  was  robbed  by  soldiers  from  Hempstead,  who  had 
their  faces  and  hands  blackened  with  a  solution  of  gunpowder. 
They  broke  open  whatever  was  locked,  acted  ferociously,  and 
struck  with  an  axe  at  Thomas  Pearsall,  her  son-in-law,  as  he 
came  in  the  room  and  tendered  them  all  the  money  he  had. 
On  leaving  the  house  they  threw  into  a  snow-bank  the  plated 
candlestick  they  had  used. — Wm.  Mott,  of  Great  Neck,  was 
robbed  and  dreadfully  beat  on  the  head  to  make  him  give  up 
his  money ;  his  horses  and  cattle  were  driven  off,  and  a  negro 
shot  east  of  his  house. — Adam,  father  of  Samuel  Mott,  Cow 
Neck,  was  robbed.  Eliza  Cornelius  (since  Mrs.  Jervis)  was 
forced  at  the  bayonet's  point  to  show  the  robbers  about  the 
house. 

The  Hessians  were  billeted  on  the  inhabitants  at  North 
Side,  (using  the  school-house  south  of  Obadiah  Townsend's 
as  a  hospital ;)  at  Wcstbury  ;  on  Cow  Neck,  (the  school-house 
at  Flower  Hill  being  occupied  one  winter,  so  that  Master  El- 
bert Hegeman  discontinued  his  school ;)  at  Success,  (occupying 


18^  AR.MED    OCCUPATION. 

the  Dutch  church ;)  at  Great  Neck,  (using  Abm.  Schenck's 
barn  as  a  hospital ;)  along  the  head  of  Cow  Neck,  (occupying 
the  school-house  north  of  John  T.  Mitchell's  ;)  and  at  Herricks. 
They  had  picket  guards  in  a  house  at  Judge  Mitchell's  land- 
ing, at  Friends'  meeting-house,  and  at  Harris's  Hill :  and  en- 
campments at  Herricks,  Success,  and  on  a  slope  southeast  of 
D.  R.  Schenck's,  Great  Neck.  The  provincial  corps  also  lay 
at  Herricks,  and  in  the  orchard  of  Wm.  Tredwell,  northeast  of 
Success  church ;  on  the  site  of  the  Episcopal  church  were 
tents,  and  in  the  rear  stables  for  cavalry  horses.  There,  on  land 
(now  Judge  O.'s)  might  be  seen  Hessians  with  black  gaiters, 
drilled  so  as  to  manoeuvre  with  the  mechanical  precision  of  au- 
tomatons. Col.  Janecke  was  quartered  at  Dr.  Latham's,  (now 
Judge  Mitchell's,)  and  had  two  swivels  mounted  before  the 
house.  His  men  lay  in  the  orchard  west  of  the  mill  brook,  and 
on  B.  Kissam's  land,  (now  Warren  Mitchell's.)  Almost  every 
tree  top  was  cut  off  to  make  huts.  None  could  be  more  handy 
with  a  hatchet  than  a  Hessian :  of  course  fences  stood  no 
chance  near  a  camp.  The  Hessians  were  a  kind,  peaceable 
people,  inveterately  fond  of  smoking,  and  pea-coflee :  their 
offences  were  of  the  sly  kind,  such  as  stealing  at  night,  while 
the  British  and  ••  New  raised  Corps  "  were  insolent,  domineer- 
ing, and  inclined  to  violence,  robbery,  and  bloodshed. 

337.  N.  York  Gaz.,  June  23,  '84.  Whereas,  several  per- 
sons came  into  my  house  at  Cow  Neck,  on  Friday  evening 
last,  and  burglariously  carried  away  a  silver  watch,  a  silver 
tankard,  some  silver  spoons,  and  a  sum  of  money,  two  pair  of 
velvet  breeches,  a  light-colored  greatcoat,  several  shirts,  shifts, 
stockings,  and  handkerchiefs ;  and  whereas,  from  the  sugges- 
tion of  others,  I  was  induceu  to  suspect  Capt.  Look  and  his 
crew  of  committing  said  robbery ;  but  upon  an  investigation 
before  the  Mayor,  I  am  satisfied  of  their  innocence ;  I  hereby 
offer  a  reward  of  $100  for  the  discovery  of  the  men  who  robbed 
me,  and  a  generous  gratification  for  the  recovery  of  all,  or  any 
part  of  my  property.  THOMAS  THORNE. 

Ntw-  Yur/c,  Jiuic  22. 

[It  was  towards  evening  that  a  number  of  men  were  seen 
to  land  at  Thos.  Thome's,  (now  R.  Cornell's,)  east  side  of 


NORTH    HEMPSTEAD.  187 

Manhasset.  They  secreted  themselves  till  the  family  were  at 
supper,  when,  leaving  a  watch  outside,  they  entered,  put  the  fa- 
mily in  one  room  under  guard,  and  searched  the  house.  After 
securing  their  booty,  they  fitted  themselves  to  new  hats  from 
the  house,  making  a  bonfire  of  their  old  ones.  One  of  the  women 
had  a  purse  of  gold,  and  in  her  fright  threw  it  down,  she 
knew  not  where.  It  fell  in  a  wool-basket  and  escaped  notice. 
James  Gowdy  had  just  returned  f/om  Nova  Scotia,  and  left  a 
bag  of  specie  at  the  house  for  the  night,  it  being  too  heavy  to 
carry  with  him. 

Some  time  after,  a  silversmith  in  New- York  was  reading 
the  advertisement  of  the  robbery,  when  a  person  brought  in 
the  tankard  to  sell.  He  agreed  to  buy  it,  but  not  having 
weights  enough,  he  stepped  out  and  brought  back,  not  weights, 
but  a  police  officer,  and  had  the  man  arrested.  On  his  infor- 
mation three  others  were  seized  on  Long  Island,  ironed  at 
Embury  Hewlett's,  a  blacksmith,  (now  the  yellow  house  of 

Williams,  North  Side.)     Here  they  were  kept  under  militia 

guard  some  time,  there  being  no  jail,  and  then  taken  to  New- 
York  for  safe  keeping,  and  thence  brought  up  for  trial  before 
John  Sloss  Hobart,  in  the  old  stone  Presbyterian  church  at  Ja- 
maica. They  were  ironed  together  and  guarded  in  the  second 
story  of  Betts's  tavern,  since  Creed's.  They  were  convicted  of 
robbery  and  burglary  on  the  evidence  of  Patty  Lawrence,  a 
girl  in  the  family,  (afterwards  wife  of  Israel  Baxter,)  who 
identified  the  stolen  articles  as  they  were  placed  on  the  com- 
munion table ;  and  of  old  Ramage.  the  ringleader,  w^ho  turned 
state's  evidence  with  hopes  of  pardon.  After  sentence  of 
death,  they  were  taken  to  New- York  in  a  covered  wagon,  es- 
corted by  six  mounted  Jamaica  militia,  and  Uriah  Mitchell, 
sheritT.  Tuesday  morning,  Nov.  22,  '84,  they  were  brought  up 
in  irons  to  Jamaica,  for  execution.  A  gallows  with  three  hooks 
was  erected  on  the  east  side  of  Beaver  Pond.  Immense 
crowds  assembled  ;  a  large  old  oak  near  the  gallows,  was  alive 
with  spectators. 

While  the  three  criminals  stood  under  the  gallows  with 
ropes  around  their  necks  ready- to  swing,  a  messenger  galloped 
up  with  a  pardon  for  Brown.  Wm.  Guthry  shook  his  head  at 
this  partiality.     Joseph  Alexander,  a  fine-looking  young  man, 


188  ARIVIED    OCCUPATIOISr, 

said  he  supposed  there  would  be  confessions  hawked  about,  (as 
was  the  case.)  but  that  he  had  made  none  except  to  his  Maker. 
He  bid  all  profit  by  his  example.*  This  was  his  first  otfence- 
The  two  bodies  were  buried  by  the  Pond,  but  were  probably 
disinterred  by  the  surgeons. 

Brown  was  a  young  man  decoyed  into  the  scrape  (as  per- 
haps were  the  rest)  by  Ramage.  and  had  a  wealthy  and  respect- 
able father  in  Massachusetts,  who  prevailed  on  Gov.  Hancock 
to  write  a  letter  in  his  behalf  He  also  made  good  all  losses 
occasioned  by  the  robbery. 

James  Ramage,  an  Irishman,  said  it  was  the  third  time  he 
had  stood  on  his  coffin.  He  took  leave  of  his  two  victims  with 
the  utmost  unconcern ;  w^hile  Brown  trembled  so  much  that  he 
could  hardly  go  through  the  ceremony.  Ramage,  'tis  said, 
had  hardly  reached  New- York  before  he  fell  to  stealing,  and 
was  chained  to  a  wheelbarrow.  He  ended  his  days  on  the 
gallows  in  New  Jersey  or  Pennsylvania. 

Soon  after  the  above  robbery,  a  trunk  of  Thome's  papers 
was  brought  to  Adam  Mott's,  and  a  reward  claimed — the  rob- 
bers at  the  same  time  holding  the  trunk  over  the  fire  and  threat- 
ening to  burn  it  if  the  money  was  not  forthcoming.  But  if 
Adam  went  for  the  money,  the  robbers  would  know  where  he 
kept  it  hid.  He  went  to  a  neighbor's,  the  robbers  followed,  and 
the  same  predicament.  It  was  at  last  agreed  that  both  parties 
should  stay  in  the  house,  while  a  messenger  was  sent  alone  to 
another  neighbor's.  The  money  was  obtained,  and  the  robbers 
departed. — Ed.'] 

*  It  is  said  one  of  the  criminals  became  very  serious,  and  had  a  Bible 
and  Psalm  Book  with  him.  A  minister  preached  to  them  from  a  wagon 
before  the  gallows. 

HEMPSTEAD. 

338.  Hempstead  was  a  small  village  in  the  war,  only  nine 
houses  between  the  brooks,  three  taverns,  viz. :  Sammis's,  Si- 
monson's  (now  Anderson's.)  und  opposite.  Jacobus  Lawrence's, 
who  could  boast  of  nine  good  feather-beds,  and  entertained  all 
the  gentry. 

Hempstead    was  selected  as  one  of  their  outposts  by  the 


HEMPSTEAD.  189 

British,  and  as  convenient  quarters  for  their  light-horse,  who 
would  be  near  the  city  in  case  of  attack,  and  could  also  make 
excursions  to  gather  forage,  &c..  for  the  city,  and  scour  the 
country  when  the  rebels  landed  from  the  Main.  The  streets 
were  garnished  with  sentry  boxes,  and  the  horse  patroled  for 
miles  around.  Col.  Birch  was  quartered  at  Capt.  Pintard's, 
(now  Mrs.  Thome's.) 

When  the  troops  first  came  here  in  '78,  they  used  the  Pres- 
byterian church  as  a  barrack  for  soldiers.  J.  A.  was  impressed 
to  cart  brick  from  Brower's  kiln,  Rockaway.  to  build  a  chimney 
therein.  The  church  was  used  as  a  guard  house,  and  prison 
also.  J.  J.  has  seen  culprits  flogged  at  the  whipping-post  in 
it.  At  last  the  floor  was  ripped  up,  the  sills  taken  out,  and  the 
building  turned  into  a  riding  school  for  drilling  the  light-horse. 

The  grave  stones  were  used  for  fire-backs,  hearths  and 
oven-bottoms,  so  that  the  impress  of  the  letters  was  left  on  the 
loaves. 

On  the  outside  of  the  church  were  rings  to  which  soldiers 
were  suspended  by  one  hand  with  their  foot  resting  on  a  sharp 
stake  or  picket  set  in  the  ground,  the  remaining  hand  and  foot 
being  tied  together.  These  pickets  were  occasionlly  of  iron, 
and.  by  the  writhings  of  the  sufferer,  would  sometimes  pierce 
through  the  foot.  The  culprit  was  then  sent  to  the  hospital, 
and  would  often  be  lame  for  weeks.  There  were  also  pickets 
in  the  rear  of  Simonson's  barn,  the  rope  running  over  the  roof. 
This  torture  couid  be  endured  only  for  a  short  time.  Some- 
times by  the  connivance  of  the  guard  a  chip  or  dollar  might  be 
slipped  under  the  stocking.  This  was  the  punishment  of  the 
light-horse.  The  Hessians  ran  the  gauntlet ;  that  is,  the  cul- 
prit walked  between  two  files  of  soldiers,  each  of  whom  gave 
him  a  blow  with  a  birch  rod,  an  officer  walking  before  the  cri- 
minal so  that  he  should  not  go  too  fast,  and  another  seeing  that 
each  soldier  gave  a  good  hearty  blow. 

An  apple-tree  east  of  the  Presbyterian  burying  ground,  was 
also  used  as  a  whipping-post.  Here  J.  B.  saw  two  deserters  of 
the  60th  receive,  as  was  said,  1000  lashes  save  one.  The  blue 
facing  of  their  red  coats  was  torn  off,  and  they  were  then  turned 
out  of  the  regiment. 

9» 


190  ARMED   OCCUPATION. 

There  were  huts  for  the  soldiers  built  of  sods,  with  ridge 
poles,  east  of  the  village,  along  the  brook. 

Boards  were  in  great  demand  for  barracks  and  stables,  and 
they  were  taken  wherever  found. 

A.  O.  had  some  excellent  Albany  boards  selected  for  repair- 
ing his  house,  which  were  carried  off  to  Hempstead.  The 
Presbyterian  church,  at  Foster's  Meadow,  was  taken  to  pieces, 
and  I.  D.  assisted  in  removing  it  to  Hempstead.  A  chimney 
was  built  in  each  end. — W.  Hart  was  at  school  in  the  Presby- 
terian church  at  Islip,  when  a  company  of  light-horse  rode  up 
and  bid  the  teacher  dismiss  school,  and  the  boys  take  their 
books  home.  In  a  few  hours,  the  church,  boards,  timbers  and 
all,  were  carted  in  six-horse  wagons  to  Hempstead.  The  poor- 
house,  a  long  building,  was  also  used  as  a  barrack.  Probably 
many  other  outbuildings  were  taken  to  pieces. 

Soldiers  were  at  times  billeted  for  three  or  four  miles  around 
Hempstead.  The  school-house  at  Christian  Hook  was  occu- 
pied by  some  of  the  60th  regiment.  A  half-pay  officer  hung 
himself  by  a  strip  of  linen  at  the  Parsonage  Bars.  There  were 
Hessians  at  L.  Cornell's  mill,  and  at  Patrick  Mott's,  (now  Si- 
monson's.) 

The  light-horse  (16th  and  17th  united)  lay  at  Hempstead 
every  winter,  from  '78  till  the  peace,  and  occasionally  in  the 
summer,  when  they  also  lay  about  the  county  in  tents.  Their 
horses  were  turned  out  to  pasture  on  the  salt  meadows,  and 
sometimes  in  clover  fields  just  ready  to  be  cut,  or  into  oats  as  it 
was  heading  out,  and  continued  there  till  the  crop  was  ruined. 
A  fixed  price,  tliough  very  inadequate,  was  usually  allowed  for 
the  damage. 

The  horsemen  wore  a  brass  cap,  sword  proof,  (shape  of  a 
jockey  cap,)  surmounted  by  a  cone,  from  which  chesnut  colored 
hair  dangled  down  upon  their  shoulders,  a  red  coat,  spurs, 
black  boots,  buckskin  breeches,  (kept  of  a  bright  yellow  Avith  a 
bufi'-ball.)  and  had  a  long  sword,  with  a  carbine  supported  by 
the  muzzle  in  a  socket  at  the  stirrup. 

These  horsemen  were  called  the  ''  dueen's  Own,"  and  were 
a  model  of  discipline  and  beauty,  and  when  mounted  on  their 
noble  chargers,  16  hands  high,  they  were  indeed  formidable. 

They  would  lash  on  behind  them  hay  for  a  week's  cxpedi- 


HEMPSTEAD.  191 

tion,  twisted  and  trussed  up  like  a  bundle  of  cord.  Their  oats 
(large  black  and  white)  and  peas  came  from  England,  and  with 
other  foreign  articles,  were  landed  at  White  Stone,  and  con- 
veyed over  land  to  Hempstead.*  So  wearied  were  the  farm- 
ers with  this  vexatious  labor,  that  they  became  desperate,  and 
would  let  a  hogshead  of  rum  roll  full  tilt  against  something  to 
set  it  a  leaking,  and  then  fall  to  and  drink. 

*  Hence,  Black  Stump  got  its  name.  A  lane  was  opened  in  carting, 
by  a  black  stump. 

One  night  before  the  troops  were  to  set  out  on  an  expedi- 
tion, a  stable  with  all  its  horses  was  burnt,  supposed  to  be  the 
work  of  some  one  impressed,  who  did  not  wish  to  go  with 
them. 

The  horses  stood  on  poles  laid  lengthwise,  or  on  sand  daily 
renewed. 

The  wood-yard  and  hay  magazine  were  north  of  Sammis's 
Inn,  enclosed  and  guarded.  There  were  to  be  seen  numerous 
long  stacks  of  hay,  containing  100  or  200  loads.  The  wood  or 
hay  w^as  inspected  as  the  farmers  brought  it  in,  and  certifi- 
cates given,  payable  at  the  Forage  Office,  N.  Y. 

Once  G.  H.  was  carting  wood,  and  the  inspector,  (who  was 
also  sutler.)  wanted  some  cider,  ($8  a  barrel.)  But  Mr.  H. 
had  to  bring  his  cord  a  day,  and  so  had  no  time  to  bring  the  ci- 
der. "  Bring  the  cider ^"  said  the  sutler,  emphatically.  H, 
took  the  hint,  corded  in  a  barrel  of  cider  with  the  wood,  and  all 
passed  inspection  ;  and  so  he  kept  on  till  all  the  cider  was  de- 
livered, and  saved  as  much  wood  in  each  cord  as  the  space 
occupied  by  the  barrel. 

The  Rev.  L.  Cutting  taught  school,  and  preached  here,  at 
Huntington,  and  Oyster  Bay.  From  the  disorder  of  the  times, 
religion  was  at  a  low  ebb.  G.  J.  has  attended  church  here, 
(when  the  Chaplain  of  the  light-horse  preached,)  and  there 
was  but  one  citizen  present. 

339.  Charles  Doughty,  of  Hempstead,  lost  a  purse  contain- 
ing 3  half  joes,  4  guineas,  1  pistole,  1  quarter  joe,  and  $15. 
April  21,  '77,  Gaine. 

340.  Aug.  25,  '77,  Gaine.  When  Parsons  attacked  Setauket, 
the  miUtia  of  dueens  turned  out  to  support  the  Royal  cause; 


192  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

but  the  rebels  went  off  with  such  precipitation,  that  the  mihtia 
returned  before  reaching  Setauket. 

341.  Sept.  1,  '77,  Gaine.  The  report  we  had  last  Friday 
that  2000  rebels  had  again  landed,  was  false  ;  yet.  two  re- 
giments from  New- York  got  as  far  as  Newtown.  The  militia 
of  Glueens  turned  out  also  in  great  numbers,  but  were  soon  or- 
dered to  return. 

342.  Dec,  20,  '77,  Riv.  200  rebels  having  landed  near  Se- 
tauket,* Maj.  Greene,  of  Delancy's  1st  battalion,  marched  on 
Thursday  with  100  men;  and  200  Hempstead  militia  have 
likewise  gone  down  to  augment  the  advanced  body  of  horse 
and  foot  under  Col.  Hewlett,  at  Huntington.  [Gaine  adds,  that 
"  Colonel  Hewlett,  with  a  party  of  Gen.  Delancy's  brigade, 
Col.  Hamilton,  with  a  troop  of  horse  from  Newtown,  and  Capt. 
Hewlett,  with  his  troop  of  horse  from  Hempstead,  are  gone  in 
pursuit  of  the  rebels  to  the  east,  and  it  is  hoped  will  give  a 
good  account  of  them."     Dec.  15.  '77,  Gaine. — Ed.'] 

[*  When  the  Americans  landed  on  the  east  parts  of  Long  Island,  the 
alarm  was  transmitted  west  by  beacons  from  Norwich  Hill  to  Beacon 
Hill,  and  thence  to  the  Fort  at  Whitestone,  and  thence  to  New- York  by  a 
discharge  of  cannon.  The  alarm-pole  at  Flushing  conveyed  the  news 
across  to  Jamaica,  where  usually  most  soldiers  lay.  The  night  beacon 
(composed  of  wood  standing  endwise  about  20  feet  high)  made  a  bright 
blaze  ;  the  day  beacon,  composed  of  brushwood,  &-c.,  made  a  thick 
smoke  only.  These  were  guarded  by  the  militia  to  prevent  their  being 
fired  muhciously. — Ed] 

343.  Wanted,  a  proper  person  to  open  a  school  at  Hemp- 
stead, for  teaching  writing,  arithmetic,  and  the  elements  of  ge- 
ometry. Apply  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cutting  or  Judge  Ludlow,  at 
the  Plains.     June  8,  '78. 

344.  July  27,  '78,  Gaine.  Last  Sunday  week,  a  large  flat 
schooner,  [from  D'Estaing's  fleet  that  lay  off*  the  Hook,]  with 
about  200  men  in  her,  made  an  attempt  to  land  a  party  of  30  or  40 
at  Rockaway  beach,  with  an  intention,  as  is  conjectured,  to  take 
some  cattle. — A  party  of  seven  of  Gov.  Wentworth's  volunteers 
observed  their  approach  and  advanced  directly  towards  them. 
Keen  as  the  appetites  of  the  Frenchmen  generally  are  for  the 
beef  of  England,  they  did  not  incline  to  risk  a  contest,  but  with 


HEMPSTEAD.  193 

the  sprightliness  and  activity  peculiar  to  that  polite  nation,  on 
such  occasions,  they  turned  lail  to  and  run  away. 

345.  Oct.  12.  '78,  Gaine.  A  small  sloop  and  two  pettyau- 
gers  were  taken  last  Monday,  near  Rockaway. 

346.  Nov.  23,  '78,  Gaine.  Died,  Saturday  last,  at  his  seat 
at  Rockaway,  the  Hon.  Josiah  Martin,  late  Governor  of  North 
Carolina,  aged  79. 

347.  Hempstead.  June  29,  '79,  Riv.  On  Saturday,  we  were 
alarmed  with  an  account  that  six  whale  boats,  manned  with  8, 
9.  and  10  men  each,  had  entered  our  bay,  seized  two  negroes 
belonging  to  Capt.  St.  Hewlett,  burnt  a  schooner  and  a  large 
hay  boat,  and  taken  a  loaded  sloop  at  Hog  Island,  intended  for 
the  New- York  market.  Three  of  the  Hempstead  militia  Capts., 
viz. :  Hicks.  Benj.  Hewlett,  and  Seaman,  instantly  mustered 
their  companies,  (and  the  men.  to  do  them  justice,  turned  out 
with  alacrity,  and  behaved  with  a  spirit  becoming  the  subjects 
of  King  George.)  Early  on  Sunday  morning  they  retook  the 
sloop,  the  two  negroes,  and  captured  two  of  the  whale  boats, 
completely  armed  with  swivels  as  well  as  small  arms,  and  man- 
ned with  17  hands. 

It  was  supposed  the  other  four  boats  had  returned  to 
the  eastward,  but  at  2  P.  M.,  the  alarm  was  again  given,  that 
the  four  whale  boats,  joined  by  two  others,  had  returned  in  the 
bay,  and  it  was  supposed,  intended  retaking  the  sloop  and  the 
two  prize  whale  boats.  The  same  three  companies  again  mus- 
tered, repaired  to  the  place  appointed,  and  with  the  assistance 
of  the  two  taken  whale  boats,  which  they  manned,  and  some  old 
crazy  hay  boats,  boldly  attacked  the  six  remaining  rebel  boats, 
took  three  of  them  completely  armed,  with  23  prisoners,  and 
pursued  the  others  for  several  miles,  till  they  were  fairly  driven 
out  of  the  country. 

Another  account  of  the  same  afair. 
Last  Sunday,  two  rebel  whale  boats,  on  board  of  which  were 
17  men,  made  their  appearance  at  Hog  Island,  near  Rocka- 
way. The  militia  were  soon  alarmed,  and  a  party  was  dis- 
patched in  two  boats,  whilst  the  others  marched  along  shore 
and   secreted  themselves   among  the  brush  at  the  entrance 


194  ARMED   OCCUPATION. 

of  and  along  the  creek,  at  which  they  entered.  The  rebels  had 
scarcely  landed,  when  they  observed  the  two  boats  coming 
into  the  inlet,  on  which,  they  endeavored  to  escape,  but  finding 
they  were  surrounded  and  fired  on  from  all  quarters,  they  sur- 
rendered. 

Some  time  after,  three  others  of  the  same  gentry  came  row- 
ing along  shore,  and  observing  their  two  boats,  made  into  the 
inlet,  and  fell  also  into  the  hands  of  the  militia.  These  boats 
were  fitted  out  at  Saybrook,  in  Connecticut,  with  a  brass  two 
pounder  in  the  bow  of  each,  and  had  a  commission  from  Gov. 
Trumbull  to  plunder  the  inhabitants  of  Long  Island.  The  pris- 
oners, 41  in  number,  were  brought  to  town  yesterday. 

348.  July  4,  '79,  Riv.  The  dueens  Co.  mihtia  made  some 
prisoners  about  this  time. 

349.  $5  Rew^ard.  Ran  away,  Charles,  a  negro  man,  speaks 
good  English,  &c.  N.  B.  Masters  of  vessels  are  desired  not 
to  carry  him  off. — July  13,  '79. 

JOHN  LEFFERTS,  Hempstead. 

350.  Aug.  10,  '79.  Last  Tuesday  Dickie  was  exchanged.* 

*  John  Jackson's  store,  west  of  the  mill-dam,  at  Merrick,  was  robbed 
by  some  whale  boats  under  Capt.  Dickie,  who  came  up  Jackson's  Creek. 
Jackson  was  carried  off  with  them,  but  the  weather  being  unfavorable  for 
going  out,  they  hauled  up  at  Crow  Island  House.  The  alarm  was  spread 
east  and  west,*  and  the  militia  went  in  pursuit.  The  western  division 
consisted  of  a  hay  boat  full  of  men,  well  armed,  under  Joseph  Raynor. 
The  eastern  division,  of  a  boat  likewise  filled,  in  which  was  my  relator, 
G.  Hewlett.  Wl;en  the  boat  from  the  east  was  seen  coming  down, 
Dickie  determined  to  launch  his  boat  and  secure  his  plunder  from  the 
house,  and  try  to  escape.  All  hands  were  set  to  work.  Shortly  after  the 
western  boat  hove  in  sight,  when  Dickie  findinghimself  cut  off,  resolved 
to  give  battle,  and  formed  his  men,  but  on  the  nearer  approach  of  the 
boats,  finding  himself  so  inferior  in  numbers,  he  concluded  to  surrender, 
and  stacked  his  arms  before  the  landing  of  the  militia.  The  prisoners 
were  sent  to  New- York.  Dickie  had  previously  plundered  a  craft  of 
goods  belonging  to  John  Brotherton,  storekeeper.  Jackson  ransomed  his 
goods  and  the  pri'ze  was  sold  and  divided  among  the  captors. 

*  Braddock  Seaman,  who  was  riding  west  to  spread  the  alarm,  was 
shot  in  the  thigh  by  two  sentinels  posted  in  a  hedge  south  of  the  road,  west 
of  the  dam,  but  galloped  on  to  Capt,  Stephen  Hewlett's  before  he  discovered 
his  wound. 


HEMPSTEAD.  TOS 

Not  long  after  this,  G.  H.  with  two  friends,  was  gunning  on  the 
marsh,  when  a  whale  boat  rowed  up,  took  his  gun,  silver  sleeve  buttons 
and  some  money  ;  and  consulted  among  themselves  whether  they  should 
take  their  hats  and  coats,  but  finally  left  them. 

Capt.  David  Jones  had  a  swivel  near  his  house,  which  he  used  more 
than  once,  but  with  what  success  is  not  now  known. — Ed. 

351.  Aug.  13,  '79,  Riv.  Hunting, — A  number  of  excellent 
Fox  hounds  having  with  great  difRcuUy  been  collected,  there 
will  be  hunting  every  Monday,  Wednesday  and  Friday,  on 
Hempstead  Plains.  One  guinea  subscription  to  those  who  wish 
to  partake  of  this  amusement,  Haifa  guinea  given  ibr  a  bag 
fox  delivered  to  Cornet  Stapleton,  at  Hempstead.  Highest 
price  for  dead  horses. 

[Some  of  the  new  raised  corps  lying  at  Herricks,  came 
over  one  winter  to  hunt  foxes  at  Near  Rockaway.  They  were 
very  rude,  and  finally  killed  and  took  off  a  great  quantity  of 
poultry.  Capt.  Hicks  bid  the  owners  make  out  their  bills  and 
send  them  to  Herricks.  They  were  instantly  paid  to  prevent 
unpleasant  consequences. — Ed.'\ 

352.  Game,  July  11,  '80.  Last  Tuesday  morning  his  Ma- 
jesty's ship  Galatea  run  ashore  near  Hog  Island,  the  sloop 
Revenue,  privateer,  of  New  London,  W.  Jaggcr,  commander, 
fitted  out  by  Joseph  Woolridge,  carrying  12  guns  and  52  men. 
The  vessel  bilged,  the  men  jumped  overboard  and  swam 
ashore  with  their  arms :  on  which  13  of  the  militia  of  Hempstead 
South,  viz  : 

Richard  Green,  Ezekiel  Raynor,  Isaac  Smith, 

John  Mott,  Reuben  Pine,  Joseph  Smith, 

Joseph  Mott,  Benjamin  Palmer,  Abel  Southard, 

Joseph  Rainer,  W.  R.  Smith,  [who  was  wounded,] 

Elijah  Rainer,  Amos  Shaw, 

commanded  by  Ensign  Elijah  Wood,  assembled,  and  after  a 
skirmish  of  6  hours,  took  10  of  the  rebels  prisoners,  together 
with  their  boat.  Mr.  Wood  was  then  reinforced  by  26*  more 
of  the  Hempstead  South  militia,  when  the  remainder  of  the 
rebels  were  secured,  and  on  Thursday  all  brought  to  the  Main 
Guard  in  this  city. 

*Lt.  McKain,  an  officer         W.  Pearsall,  Barnabas  Smith, 

on  half  pay,    Jas.  Denton,  David  Pine, 


196  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

Israel  Smith,  Jas.  Southard,  M.  Demott,  a  trooper, 

Stephen  Powell,  Elijah  Cornwall,  Th.  Burlis,  a  trooper, 

W.  Johnson,  Reuben  Jackson,  Wm.   Burtis, 

Sarn'l  Johnson,  Benjamin  Cornwall,        Joseph  Dorlon, 

Abm.  Simonson,  Elijah  Handley,  Joshua  Pettet, 

Wm   Pettet,  Venson,  a  refugee,  Uriah  Seaman. 

James  Pettet,  Morris  Green,  Alex.    Dunlap,    who 

commanded  a  boat  with  this  party  in  it,  is 
a  North  Briton,  and  a  loyal  Refugee,  who 
bravely  joined  the  militia  of  Loyal  Queens, 
with  whom  the  rebel  crew  capitulated. 

Six  of  the  inhabitants  of  Hempstead  South,  who  were  made 
prisoners  by  this  rebel  crew,  were  happily  retaken. 

353.  Aug.  9,  '80,  Biv.  About  5  o'clock  last  Friday  evening, 
an  account  was  brought  to  Rockaway  that  two  whale  boats  were 
at  Hog  Island,  and  had  taken  a  schooner  in  the  bay.  Capt. 
Chas.  Hicks,  of  the  militia,  mustered  his  company,  and  with  a 
few  volunteers  in  two  boats,  went  in  quest  of  them.  Butstormy 
weather  prevented  their  attacking  them  that  evening.  At  4 
o'clock  next  morning,  Capt.  Hicks,  to  avoid  the  effusion  of 
blood,  sent  a  flag  to  inform  the  rebels  that  if  they  would  sur- 
render prisoners,  they  should  have  good  quarters ;  this  they 
would  not  comply  with,  when  a  smart  action  commenced  ;  but 
the  enemy  seeing  that  they  could  not  escape,  agreed  to  accept 
the  first  terms,  and.  accordingly  surrendered  themselves  pris- 
oners of  war,  28  in  number,  among  them  a  clergyman.  (?) 

These  two  boats  were  14  days  from  Brunswick,  and  had  met 
with  no  success.  One  was  commanded  by  W.  Marriner,  for- 
merly a  cordwainer  and  oyster  dealer  of  New- York,  but  of  late 
a  great  rebel  partisan.  Mr.  Dickie,  the  rebel  Commissary, 
was  also  taken,  who  has  ever  proved  a  violent  persecutor 
of  the  Royal  officers  and  Loyalists  who  have  fallen  into  his 
power.  The  boats  were  well  filled  and  provided  with  all  sorts 
of  ammunition.  None  killed  or  wounded  on  either  side.  Sev- 
eral grapeshot  went  through  Capt.  Hicks's  jacket. 

A  more  jyerfccl  account  from  an  eye-witness. 
Last    Friday   evening    about   G    o'clock,    information   was 
brought  to  Lt.  Williams  of  Gov.  Wentvvorth's  Volunteers,  the 
commanding   officer  of  this  post,   that  a  party  of  rebels  had 


HEMPSTEAD.  197 

landed  on  Hog  Island  beach,  and  had  taken  a  schooner  in  the 
bay.  He  immediately  marched  with  14  of  his  company  and 
14  of  the  17th  light  dragoons  to  Pine's  Landing  ;  from  whence 
they  proceeded  in  boats  with  Capt.  Hewlett  of  the  militia,  and 
part  of  his  company,  to  Hog  Island,  where  they  arrived  at  9 
that  evening,  and  joined  Capt.  Hicks,  who  was  there  with  part 
of  his  company:  remained  there  till  2  next  morning  (by  which 
time  the  militia  had  collected  to  the  number  of  about  40,)  then 
re-embarked  and  proceeded  to  the  beach,  where  they  all  landed 
at  daybreak  without  any  other  opposition  than  one  musket  fired 
by  a  rebel  sentry,  which  was  returned  by  two  from  us.  The 
rebels  then  sent  a  flag  and  submitted  themselves  prisoners  of 
war  ;  and  were,  with  two  remarkable  fine  boats  taken  from 
them,  safely  conducted  to  Rockaway  by  6  the  same  morning, 
and  left  in  care  of  Capt.  Hicks. —  Gaine^  Aug-  2,  '80. 

[Capt.  Story  says  word  was  brought  that  a  whale  boat  had  taken  Capt. 
Jo.  Stout's  schooner  at  Hog  Island.  James  Pine  rode  to  Hempstead  for  the 
light-horse,  when  28  galloped  down  in  17  minutes.  Pine's  hoise  gave  out 
and  he  mounted  behind  a  trooper.  These  were  taken  aboard  a  hay-boat, 
and  staid  at  Hog  Island  that  night.  At  dawn  they  went  in  search  of  the 
whale  boat.  They  saw  a  person  swimming  and  then  running  on  the  mea- 
dows. It  was  Capt.  Stout.  They  took  him  on  board,  and  then  rowed  on  till 
they  reached  the  bar  running  north  and  south.  As  they  were  landing,  a  per- 
son rushed  past.  It  was  Capt.  Marriner.  He  fired,  but  only  hit  the  boat. 
The  schooner  and  whale  boat  lay  high  and  dry,  the  wind  being  southerly, 
and  the  whale  boat  ignorant  of  the  channel.  The  militia  had  two  carriage 
guns  on  a  hill  on  the  beach  east  of  the  schooner,  ready  to  fire  on  her,  if  she 
should  float  and  attempt  to  get  off,  but  did  not  use  it.  As  they  neared  the 
vessels  a  man  whom  the  whale  boats  had  made  prisoner,  Thomas  Hutch- 
ings,  came  from  them,  waving  a  handkerchief  on  a  stick  for  parley.  Mar- 
riner proposed  to  surrender  if  he  could  be  billeted  at  Hempstead.  This 
was  refused,  when  they  surrendered  at  discretion,  and  were  marched  off  to 
New- York.  Only  28  persons,  the  real  captors,  shared  the  prize,  though 
there  were  200 militia  collected  around.. 

Uriah  Pearsall  was  one  of  this  party.  As  they  neared  the  shore,  a  sentry 
who  lay  in  a  hole  he  had  dug  in  the  sand  to  hide  himself,  fired  and  run.  The 
ball  entered  the  bow  of  the  boat  under  the  seats  and  so  out  of  the  stern, 
but  hurt  no  one.  The  militia  gave  him  "  whistle  tail"  but  did  not  touch 
him.  The  militia  were  not  obliged  to  leave  terra  firma  to  attack  whale 
boats,  but  many  did  so  from  patriotic  motives  or  hopes  of  prize  money. 


198  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

Capt.  Story,  who  owned  a  vessel  in  the  oyster  business  at  Blue  Point, 
was  captured  three  times.  First,  his  schooner  was  taken  while  graving 
at  Babylon,  by  Capt.  Spooner,  in  a  New  London  whale  boat.  He  ran- 
somed her  for  20  half  joes  and  9  guineas,  and  got  a  ransom  bill  for  55 
days.  The  time  had  hardly  elapsed  when  he  was  again  taken  by  Spooner, 
but  got  off  by  giving  ^25  and  5  gallons  of  rum,  (worth  18s.  per  gallon)  as 
an  acknowledgment  to  the  Yankee  crew.  The  captors  off  with  their 
hats  and  gave  three  cheers  for  Capt.  Story  and  his  liberality.  The  third 
time,  his  boat  was  taken  at  Hog  Island,  by  a  Jersey  whale  boat,  and  as 
they  could  not  get  her  out,  Capt.  Story  was  allowed  to  ransom  her  for  £63. 

G.  J.  says,  in  the  marshing  season,  a  galley  and  whale  boat  from  New 
Brunswick,  under  Capt.  Barent  Altrecht,  came  up  Parsonage  Creek  and 
robbed  Joseph  Smith  and  Thomas  Dorlon  of  two  wagon  loads  of  goods. 
The  whale  boats  on  tlie  south  side  of  Long  Island  were  partly  from  Jersey 
and  partly  from  New  England.  Their  chief  object  was  to  capture  oyster, 
clam,  and  wood  boats,  and  vessels  trading  to  and  from  New- York,  which 
entered  the  inlets  and  so  sailed  in  the  south  Bay.  As  the  trading  craft 
went  armed,  obstinate  fights  sometimes  occurred.  The  eastern  whale 
boats  were  carried  on  men's  shoulders  over  the  Island  at  Canoe  Place, 
and  launched  in  the  South  Bay. 

354.  On  the  night  of  January  10,  '81,  the  family  ofParmc- 
nas  Jackson  at  Jerusalem  were  aroused  by  the  entrance  ofJohn 
Degraw  and  6  other  soldiers,  who  shutting  up  tiic  rest  of  the  fi^m- 
ily,  demanded  of  Mr.  J.  his  money,  and  on  his  refusing  to  disco- 
ver it,  they  hacked  him  so  terribly  on  his  head  and  arm  (as  it 
was  uplifted  to  ward  off  the  blows)  that  the  wall  overhead  was 
spotted  with  blood,  but  he  continuing  resolute  and  hoping  each 
blow  would  be  the  last,  lield  out  too  long.  They  left  him  for 
dead,  and  attacked  his  father-in-law,  Tliomas  Birdsall.  an  aged 
man,  when  his  wife,  to  save  her  husband's  life,  disclosed  the 
hid  treasure  in  a  bottle  under  the  hearth.  The  robbers  car- 
ried off  $3000  in  gold  and  silver,  with  divers  articles  of  dress  and 
furniture.  The  only  words  the  wounded  man  ever  spoke  were 
"  Lloyd's  Neck  !  Lloyd's  Neck  !"  Judging  from  thistiiat  they 
were  soldiers  from  Col.  Ludlow's  garrison,  the  neighbors  Ibrth- 
with  posted  otf  to  Lloyd's  Neck.  One  Voorhies  rode  a  fleet 
horse*  to  Capt.  Van  Wyck's  at  E.  Woods,  who  instantly 
ordered  his  servant  to  saddle  his  swiftest  horse,  and  guided  them 
to  Lloyd's  Neck,  where  they  arrived  before  daylight.  The 
roll  was  called,  and  a  guard  set  on  the  narrow  passage  to  the 


HEMPSTEAD.  199 

Neck,  when  the  robbers  soon  came  up  and  were  secured,  with 
their  booty  on  them. 

Mr.  J.  had  a  good  deal  of  stock  which  he  fattened  on  the 
Plains.  From  the  sale  of  this  he  had  amassed  a  large  sum  of 
money,  which  coming  to  the  knowledge  of  the  servant  girl,  she 
revealed  the  secret  to  Degraw,  her  brother,  a  soldier  in  Delan- 
cy's  3d  battalion.  The  robbers  were  put  on  shipboard  and  sent 
to  New-York  for  trial.  Elgar,  the  worst  one,  jumped  overboard, 
and  was  drowned.  Degraw  died  in  Provost.  The  fate  of  the 
rest  is  unknown,  though  it  is  said  they  were  sent  to  the  mines 
on  the  Spanish  Main  or  to  Honduras. 

Drs.  Searing  and  Seabury  attended  Jackson  and  took  off 
pieces  of  the  skull  to  relieve  the  pressure  on  the  brain,  which 
was  so  exposed  that  its  motions  were  visible.  He  survived 
nine  days,  when  he  died  very  hard,  gasping  for  breath  a  long 
time, — aged  37. 

*  This  was  Jacob  Seaman's  horse.  Sloven, which  was  so  broke  down 
by  this  ride  that  he  never  recovered  his  former  speed. 
To  Thomas  Van   Wyck,  Esq.,  Captain  in  the  Loyal  Queens  County 
Militia  : 

City  Hall,  New-York,  Feb.  23, '81. 

Sir  :  It  is  with  pleasure  I  sit  down  to  inform  you  that  I  am  desired  by 
the  Court  to  assure  you  that  your  humane,  generous  and  manly  exertion, 
in  bringing  to  light  the  perpetration  of  so  horrid  a  crime  as  the  robbery 
and  murder  of  Parmenas  .lackson,  of  Jerusalem,  now  before  us,  not  only 
demands  the  thanks  of  this  Court,  but  merits  also  the  love  and  esteem  of 
every  neighbor  and  fellow-citizen. 

I  am,  sir,  with  the  highest  respect. 

Your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

JOHN  BREESE, 
Major  54th  Regiment,  President. 

355.  Mar.  14,  '81,  Biv.  Fifty  Joes  to  be  run  for  by  Eclipse 
and  Sturdy  Beggar,  at  Capt.  Tim.  Cornell's  Poles,  Hempstead 
Plains,  a  single  two  mile  heat. 

356.  Chatham,  N.  J.,  Apr.  18, '81.  We  hear  the  whale 
boats  from  Brunswick  are  making  a  very  successful  cruise  to 
Long  Island  this  week. 

357.  May  14,  '81,  Gaine.  Last  Thursday  was  brought  into 
New-York,  by  a  party  of  Long  Island  militia,  a  partisan  rebel, 


200  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

Capt.  Dickie,  of  New  Brunswick,  with  thirteen  of  his  gang  of 
phinderers.  This  doughty  hero  has  rendered  himself  notorious 
by  his  expeditions  on  Long  Island. 

358.  Juli/  30,  ^81,  Gaine.  Nine  Jersey  plunderers  in  a  rebel 
whale  boat  were  taken  by  the  Glueens  county  mihtia  yesterday, 
and  brought  to  town. 

359.  Aug.  1,  '81,  Riv.  Last  Saturday  night,  Capt.  Hicks, 
of  dueens  county,  heard  of  a  whale  boat  being  in  Jamaica 
Bay,  that  had  taken  a  sloop  of  Mr.  [John]  Mott^  of  Rockaway. 
He  mustered  twenty-five  of  his  neighbors,  and  proceeded  in 
three  boats  in  search  of  the  rebels.  After  rowing  all  night,  he 
discovered  the  whale  boat  and  her  prize  at  anchor,  under  Bar- 
ren Island,  which  they  determined  to  attack  immediately.  The 
rebels  then  manned  their  boats  in  the  greatest  confusion,  and 
being  cut  off  from  the  sea,  made  for  the  Flatlands,  in  Kings 
county.  Hicks  landed  most  of  his  men  at  Barren  Island,  to  cut 
off  their  retreat,  and  pursued  them  with  only  five  white  and 
three  black  men,  in  two  small  skiffs.  The  rebels,  after  a  long 
chase,  abandoned  their  boat,  w^ith  most  of  their  arms,  and  fled 
into  the  w^oods ;  bat  as  Capt.  Hicks  has  alarmed  all  the  shore, 
he  does  not  doubt  the  rebels  will  be  secured.  The  whale  boat 
is  quite  new,  and  had  a  heavy  gun  in  her  bow. 

A  new  whale  boat  to  be  sold  at  auction  at  Hicks's  Tavern, 
Far  Rockaway,  Aug.  6.  She  is  upwards  of  thirty-five  feet 
long,  rows  eight  oars,  has  two  good  sails  and  a  large  swivel. 

[Col.  Hamilton  forbids  the  above  sale,  because  not  reported  to  him 
by  the  captors  in  a  proper  and  official  manner. 

Ja's  Abrams  saw  the  above  capture.  The  boatmen  tried  Plum  Inlet, 
but  as  there  was  a  fresh  wind  from  the  south,  she  was  cut  ofl'.  They  then 
made  for  the  Old  Mill,  (Schenck's.)  The  prize  had  a  good  store  of  meat 
and  biscuit  on  board.  The  captors  named  her  "  Lady  Washington,"  to 
enhance  her  value.  The  militia  were  not  obliged  to  go  oil' land  to  attack 
boats,  but  often  volunteered  to  do  so  in  hopes  of  prize  money. 

A  privateer  was  manned  under  Barren  Island  to  escape  the  press 
gangs.  She  gave  ,^2  a  bushel  for  potatoes.  Market  boats  were  licensed 
to  have  a  certain  number  of  hands  ;  all  over  it  were  liable  to  be  impressed. 
There  were  several  hot  presses  in  New-York  ;  many  were  taken  off  un- 
known to  their  friends,  and  never  heard  of  after. — Ed.] 


HEMPSTEAD.  201 

360.  Sep.  25,  '81.  The  sloop  Restoration,  Capt.  Hart,  of 
Saybrook,  was  driven  asliore  on  a  point  of  sand  at  Hempstead, 
south  side  of  Long  Island,  one  and  a  half  miles  from  land,  6th 
inst.,  in  the  night,  by  a  frigate,  where  his  vessel  lay  till  next 
day,  when  he  was  attacked  by  two  militia  companies,  com- 
manded by  Capts.  David  Jones  and  Seaman.  Capt.  Hart  took 
Jones  and  eight  men  prisoners  ;*  but  next  morning  he  was  at- 
tacked by  five  captain's  companies,  (three  of  foot  and  two  of 
horse,)  who  sent  off  a  flag  demanding  the  surrender  of  his 
vessel,  and  his  men  to  be  given  up  as  prisoners  of  war.  Capt. 
Hart  would  not  consent  to  these  terms,  but  sent  for  answer  that 
himself  should  be  exchanged  for  Capt.  Jones,  and  the  men  he 
had  taken  should  be  exchanged  for  an  equal  number  of  Jones's 
men,  and  all  his  other  people  should  be  permitted  to  return 
home  unmolested,  on  parole ;  which  terms  were  finally  agreed 
on ;  and  Capt.  Hart  Avith  his  people  returned  Wednesday 
after. 

*  The  militia  went  down  in  a  hay  boat,  landed  Capt.  Jones  and  a 
part  of  the  men,  when  the  Privateer  fired  a  cannon,  and  the  boat  hauled 
off  and  left  those  on  the  bar  to  their  fate. 

361.  Alay  8,  '82.  An  account  was  yesterday  brought  to 
town  that  an  enterprising  rebel  partisan,  said  to  be  Hyler,  had 
landed  a  number  of  men  on  Hog  Island,  in  the  Sound  (?)  There 
were  with  him  three  whale  boats  and  a  small  privateer. 

362.  June  10,  '82,  Gaine.  Hyler's  boats  are  now  ranging 
on  the  south  side  of  Long  Island. 

People  would  sometimes  take  a  spy-glass  and  climb  on  the  roof  of 
their  houses,  and  if  they  saw  any  whale  boats  in  the  bay,  they  would  re- 
move their  valuables  to  a  hiding  place,  leaving  only  a  few  articles  in  the 
house.  The  robbers  would  then  ransack  the  house,  curse  them  for  their 
poverty,  and  depart.  Stores  were  often  nearly  emptied  in  this  way  of  an 
afternoon,  and  the  goods  replaced  next  morning.  But  if  the  owners  were 
once  caught,  they  were  likely  to  be  tortured  till  the  goods  were  forth- 
coming.    The  alarm  was  spread  by  guns  or  horn-blowing. 

363.  For  sale  at  the  dwelling  house  of  Capt.  Stephen  Hew- 
lett, at  Great  Merrock,  some  articles  saved  from  the  wreck  of 
the  brigantine  Hussar,  stranded  on  Merrock  Shoals,  night  of 
January  24.— i?iv.  Feb.  12,  '83. 


202  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

36L  July  21,'83.    Five  Dollars  Reward.     Strayed  or  stolen 
from  Robert  T.  Bloomer,  at  Hempstead,  a  young  brown  mare. 
JOS.  WEEKS,  Huntington  Ferry. 

365.  Samuel  Doughty's  store  at  Foster's  Meadow  was 
robbed.  The  neighbors  went  in  pursuit  and  followed  the  wag- 
on track  to  the  north  side  of  the  island,  where  they  found  the 
wagon  and  heard  the  rowing;  the  robbers  having  just  shoved 
off  for  Connecticut. 

John  Skidmore  and  wife,  an  aged  couple,  lived  near  Amber- 
man's  Mill,  Foster's  Meadow^,  on  the  Rockaway  Road,  (now 
Shaw's.)  He  had  recently  sold  a  farm  and  mill,  and  was  sup- 
posed to  be  in  possession  of  a  large  sum  of  money.  His  door 
was  forced  open  in  the  night,  and  his  money  demanded.  He 
handed  the  robbers  (whose  faces  were  blacked  and  muffled) 
a  purse,  saying  it  was  all  he  had,  for  luckily  he  had  a  few  days 
before  invested  $1000.  Not  satisfied  with  this,  they  beat  him 
and  his  wife,  at  three  or  four  heats,  so  dreadfull)^,  on  their 
heads,  with  the  butt  ends  of  their  pistols,  to  extort  further  dis- 
closures, that  they  both  died  of  their  wounds  a  few  days  after. 
Their  negro.  Jack,  a  stout  fellow,  when  he  heard  the  noise, 
niounted  the  kitchen  loft,  and  drew  the  steps  after  him.  Then 
seizing  a  scythe  from  the  rafters,  when  they  bid  him  come 
down  he  flatly  refused,  and  bid  them  do  their  best.  They  then 
went  off,  and  were  never  discovered. 

Capt.  Samuel  Seaman,  at  Jerusalem,  had  his  store  well 
barred,  but  it  was  robbed  in  the  daytime  by  a  party  under 
John  Cott,  who  came  from  Norwalk,  and  lurked  about  Bread 
and  Cheese  Hollow  one  night.  They  set  a  guard  over  the 
family  and  rummaged  the  house.  His  wife  had  taken  a  hand- 
kerchief of  gold  and  silver  from  its  hiding  place,  to  get  out 
some  change,  and  placed  it  on  the  tester  of  the  bed.  They 
took  that,  some  clothing,  and  goods  from  the  store.  They 
threatened  to  stave  his  liquors  unless  he  would  ransom  them  ; 
but  on  his  refusal,  they  went  off. 

On  one  occasion  Capt.  Seaman  and  Luke  Fleet,  who  had 
been  robbed,  went  over  to  Norwalk  and  had  the  robbers  ar- 
rested, but  they  were  rescued  by  a  mob  from  New  Canaan. 

One  foggy  morning  as  Hallet  Jones  was  going  to  the  Bay 


OYSTER    BAY.  203 

he  saw  a  gun-boat  at  anchor  by  the  Shell  Bank,  and  no  person 
on  board.  He  rowed  up  and  took  possession,  first  taking  her 
long-boat  from  her  fastening  on  shore.  Directly  the  crew  (who 
had  gone  ashore  in  quest  of  wood)  returned  and  begged  to  be 
restored  to  the  possession  of  their  boat,  promising  money  and 
what  not.  But  Mr.  Jones  was  deaf  to  their  entreaties,  and  fired 
a  lee  gun,  which  drew  a  company  of  militia  to  the  spot,  who 
secured  the  crew.  They  were  examined,  when  the  Captain 
plead  a  wife  and  children  who  would  be  distressed  at  his  de- 
tention, and  promising  better  for  the  future,  all  were  discharged. 
The  prize  was  sold  and  the  money  divided  among  the  militia, 
leaving  Mr.  Jones  nothing  but  a  good  conscience  for  his  pains. 

366.  Whereas,  Martha,  wife  of  Thos.  CofReld,  lieutenant  in 
the  North  Carolina  Regiment,  is  concealed  from  him,  (sup- 
posed by  her  mother,  Melissa  Carman,  of  Hempstead,)  to 
keep  her  from  going  with  her  loving  husband  to  Nova  Scotia 
or  St.  Augustine,  the  public  are  cautioned,  &c. — Riv.,  Sep.  10, 
'83. 

367.  A  Miss  H.,  near  Hempstead,  had  formed  an  intimacy 
with  a  Highlander,  against  the  wishes  of  her  friends.  But 
when  the  British  forces  were  about  to  evacuate  the  Island,  she 
was  missing.  The  distressed  father  expressed  his  apprehen- 
sions to  the  commanding  officer  that  his  daughter  had  eloped, 
and  was  now  in  the  company  of  her  lover.  Forthwith  the  men 
were  drawn  up,  and  the  father  walked  along  the  ranks,  when 
he  discovered  his  daughter  in  the  guise  of  a  soldier,  by  the 
whiteness  of  the  skin  where  the  garter  is  usually  tied. 

A  soldier  of  a  regiment  of  foot  that  lay  at  Foster's  Meadow 
fell  in  love  with  a  Miss  B.  Her  friends  removed  her  to  Solo- 
mon Foster's,  at  the  Alley.  The  soldier  discovering  where  she 
was,  attempted  one  night  to  carry  her  off,  but  was  shot  by  Sol- 
omon, for  which  he  was  put  in  Provost. 

OYSTER  BAY. 

368.  Whereas  many  of  the  drivers  of  wagons  of  the  differ- 
ent counties  on  Long  Island,  who  were  impressed  from  time  to 
time  into  his  Majesty's  service,  are  deserted  and  run  away, 
which  occasions  many  of  the  horses  being  lost  and  neglected  : 


204  AR3IED    OCCUPATION. 

this  is  therefore  to  inform  all  masters  of  such  wagons  and 
teams,  and  their  drivers,  that  if  they  do  not  immediately  return 
to  take  care  of  their  wagons  and  teams,  and  do  their  duty  as 
drivers,  that  the  Quarter  Master  General  will  not  be  answera- 
ble for  the  loss  of  any  of  the  wagons  or  teams.  Dated  at  Gen. 
Delancy's  head  quarters,  at  Oyster  Bay,  Nov.  14,  '76. 

OLIVER  DELANCY,  Brig.  Gen. 
Wm.  Sheriff,  Dep.  Quarter  Master  Gen.* 

*  He  returned  to  New- York  with  wagons,  Nov.  24. 

[Tunis  Bogart  and  Andrew  Hegeman  were  impressed  to  cart  ammu- 
nition for  the  British  army,  and  were  present  at  White  Plains  and  Fort 
Washington.  They  also  saw  the  execution  of  Capt.  Hale  (Sept.  26)  on 
an  apple-tree  near  Col.  Rutgers'.  Hale  was  surrounded  by  a  circle  of 
spectators,  men  and  women,  who  were  much  disgusted  at  the  brutality  of 
Cunningham.  Hale  said  Washington  had  requested  him  to  get  informa- 
tion about  the  British  army,  and  that  he  must  submit  to  death,  if  such 
was  the  rule  of  war.     The  women  sobbed  aloud. — Ed.] 

369.  In  November,  '76,  the  mind  of  N.  Dayton,  of  Conn., 
was  filled  with  gloomy  apprehensions  for  the  fate  of  his  coun- 
try, and  by  the  strongest  assurances  of  the  safety  and  peace 
he  might  enjoy  under  the  refugees  on  Long  Island,  he  was 
deluded  to  abscond  and  place  himself  under  their  protection. 
But  on  his  arrival  at  Delancy's  head  quarters,  he  was  tyran- 
nically compelled  to  bear  arms,  under  pain  of  military  execu- 
tion ;  whereupon,  he  escaped  from  his  military  bondage  the 
same  month. — //m.  Con7i.,  p.  305. 

[Howe  sent  British  emissaries  (who  were  often  caught  and 
hung)  to  enlist  and  decoy  over  from  New  England  all  tmiid 
and  secretly  disaffected  persons. — Ed.] 

370.  N.  Haven,  Dec.  14,  '77.  Peggy  and  cargo,  Darby  Doyle, 
master,  navigated  with  40  men,  under  a  commission  of  Val. 
Jones,  to  supply  New-York  with  fuel,  forage  and  provisions, 
was  taken  by  Peter  Grilling,  captain  of  a  company  of  Rangers. 

371.  /Jec.  15,  '77.  The  sloop  Dove  and  cargo  was  taken 
in  Cold  Spring  harbor,  by  Thomas  Sellew,  in  the  armed  sloop 
Lucy. 

372.  Dec.  22,  '77,   Gai?ie.      Sunday  night.  14th,  the  rebels 


OYSTER    BAY.  205 

landed  at  Cold  Spring,  and  carried  off  two  market  boats  loaded 
with  flaxseed,  wood,  cider,  &c.,  &c. 

373.  The  Industry,  Capt.  Ab'm  Selleck,  from  Oyster  Bay 
to  New- York,  loaded  with  15  cords  wood,  17  half-barrels  of  cider 
and  vinegar,  7  or  8  bags  of  meal,  and  rigging  and  sails  for 
another  vessel,  was  taken,  Feb.  '77.  by  the  Flying  Fish,  of 
Rye. 

374.  Riv.,  March  7,  '78.  About  12  o'clock,  March  3d, 
seven  men,  with  arms,  were  discovered  crossing  Lloyd's  Neck, 
bending  their  course  for  the  narrow  beach  that  leads  off  the 
Neck.  They  were  pursued  and  taken  by  David  Lion,  Wm. 
Pack,  John,  Jonathan,  Jabez  and  Jared  Cable,  and  eight  more 
loyal  refugees.  They  appeared  to  be  the  noted  Wm.  S.  Scud- 
der  and  his  gang,  as  appears  from  the  following  confession. 

"  Sept.,  '76,  I  quitted  Long  Island,  and  after  several  differ- 
ent routes,  &c.,  soon  after  Capt.  Samuel  Richards  was  taken 
from  Connecticut,  came  over  to  Hog  Island,  as  a  pilot  to  one 
John  Bessie,  to  take  Squire  Smith ;  but  missed  of  him,  and 
took  a  Gluaker,  and  plundered  the  house  of  considerable  value. 
I  was  one  in  all  the  expeditions  to  Long  Island,  at  Setauket 
and  elsewhere  ;  and  had  the  command  of  the  boat,  and  was 
the  person  who  took  Mr.  Ireland,  at  Mr.  Haviland's  house. 
A  while  after  this,  I  was  sent  over  by  Gen.  Parsons,  to  lie  in 
wait  to  prevent  driving  off  the  stock,  taking  off  the  forage,  &c. 
from  the  east  end  of  the  island,  provided  the  Gen.  landed  with 
force  to  maintain  his  ground,  &c.  Upon  his  being  disappoint- 
ed, I  made  my  escape  from  the  island. 

"  Some  time  after,  I  was  of  the  party  that  came  over  and 
took  two  sloops  out  of  Cold  Spring  Harbor.  I  was  also  one  of 
the  party  that  took  Mr.  Tobias  and  his  goods,  from  Fresh 
Pond.  I  also  was  one  of  the  party  that  lately  came  over  and 
burnt  three  vessels  that  were  cast  away  on  Long  Island,  when 
coming  from  R.  I.,  and  my  design  now  in  coming  over  was 
to  collect  what  we  could  from  the  wrecks  then  burnt.  We 
got  some  things  out  of  Samuel  Skidmore's  cider-mill  house 
and  made  his  negro  get  up  his  team  and  cart  them  down  to 
the  shore.  We  then  attempted  to  go  over  to  the  other  shore 
but  the  wind  coming  ahead  and  it  setting  in  extreme  cold  and 

JO 


SDG  ARMED    OCClTPATION-. 

freezing-  our  fingers,  feet,  &c..  we  were  obliged  to  make  for  tiis* 
first  land  before  the  wind,  which  proved  to  be  Lloyd's  Neck. 
Witness  my  hand,  WM.  SMITH  SCUDDER.. 

Fyler  Dibble,  >  „^-^,,,,,,,^  March  3,  '78. 

Wm.  Q,carme,  ^ 

The  prisoners,  on  Saturday  afternoon,  Mareh  7,  were 
brought  to  New-York,  in  the  boat  of  the  Halifax,  Capt> 
Q,uarme,*  and  secured  in  the  Provost  guard.f 

*  The  first  guard  ship  in  the  mouth  of  Oyster  Bay  was  the  Halifax^ 
Capt.  Quarme  ;  after  two  years  she  was  condemned.  Then  Capt.  Riley,, 
who  became  superannuated,  next  was  Capt.  Townsend,  who  was  ashore 
sick  at  Wm.  Ludlam's,  when  a  fleet  of  American  vessels  run  along  side 
in  open  day  and  took  his  vessel.  (See  403.)  The  British  had  been 
expecting  their  own  fleet  of  privateers,  and  so  did  not  suspect  the  trick. 
Capt.  Peebles  also  commanded  here  ;  who  was  surprised  in  Hempstead 
Harbor.  The  Grana  frigate,  Capt.  Negle,.  K.  B.,  was  also  a  guard  ship. 
here. 

t  New  Haven,  3f arch  18,  *78.  About  a  fortnight  ago  twelve  or  fourteen 
persons,  in  two  boats,  crossed  the  Sound  from  Norwalk  to  Long  Island 
One  returned  with  her  company,,  who  were  severely  frost-bitten :  the 
other  was  taken  and  carried  to  New- York  with  her  company,  (six  in 
number,)  who  were  also  much  frost-bitten. 

375.  March  9,  '78.  Lieut.  Col.  Emenck  wishes  to  raise  six 
companies  of  foot,  to  consist  of  360  men  ;  and  two  troops  of 
light  dragoons,  to  ct3nsist  of  100,  w^io  will  immediately  receive 
their  bounty,  before  attested;  pay,  clothing  and  provision 
regular,  agreeable  to  the  King's  allowance,  without  clipping- 
or  deduction.  Refugees  paid  the  price  of  their  horses.  His 
soldiers  live  like  gentlemen,  and  he  treats  all  who  behave  well  as 
brothers.  Apply  to  Capt.  Henry  Seton,  at  Huntington,  Oyster 
Bay  and  Jericho,  who  gives  $5  over  and  above  the  King's 
bounty. 

GOD  save  the  KING. 

376.  March  25,  '78.  John  Ireland,  an  inhabitant  of  Long 
Island,  taken  a  prisoner  in  arms  against  the  United  States,  (at 
Lloyd's  Neck,  Nov.  26,  '77,)  was  permitted  to  return  to  procure 
necessary  clothing,  &c.,  by  giving  his  parol,  and  to  return  and 
deliver  himself  up  in  30  days. — Hinman^s  ConH. 

^17.  April  27,  '78,  Eiv.     Last  Monday  evening  two  row 


OYSTER    BAY.  '207 

gallies  and  an  armed  vessel  crossed  from  Connecticut  to 
Lloyd's  Neck,  where  a  party  of  loyal  refugees  were  cutting 
wood ;  who,  upon  being  attacked,  retreated  to  a  house,  in 
which  they  defended  themselves  with  great  bravery  and  reso- 
lution upwards  of  six  hours  :  but  their  ammunition  being  all 
expended,  they  were  obliged  to  submit  to  superior  force.  Next 
morning  the  rebels  carried  their  prisoners,  18  in  number,  over 
to  Connecticut.  The  house  in  which  the  refugees  fought  and 
surrendered  is  perforated  in  many  places  by  the  shot  of  the 
rebels. 

378.  May  2,  '78,  Biv.  Fyler  Dibble,*  with  sixteen  wood- 
cutters, was  taken  off  Lloyd's  Neck,  April  26,  by  a  galley  car- 
rying a  12  pounder,  four  whale  boats,  and  50  or  60  men.  The 
alarm  reaching  the  men-of-war  on  that  station,  the  ship's  boats 
pursued,  but  to  no  purpose,  although  they  persevered  so  long 
as  to  talk  to  each  other,  and  did  not  retire  till  they  had  received 
two  heavy  fires  from  their  12  pounder,  graped,  and  all  their 
musquetry. 

*  Dibble  was  a  refugee,  whose  estate  at  Stamford  was  confiscated. 
He  committed  suicide  at  Nova  Scotia,  goaded,  as  is  said,  by  a  guilty 
conscience. 

379.  May  22,  '78.  Con.  Gaz.  "  Last  week  [May  5]  a  small 
boat  commanded  by  Capt.  Adamson,  from  eastward,  with  six 
men  and  ten  swivels,  went  into  Oyster  Bay  and  fell  in  with  the 
tender  of  the  British  ship  Raven.  The  tender  mounted  eight 
swivels,  and  had  nine  men  with  wall-pieces.  The  boat,  after 
discharging  her  swivels  and  small  arms,  boarded  and  carried 
her,  and  next  morning  brought  her  into  Stamford.  She  had 
on  board  three  hogsheads  of  rum,  several  casks  of  bread,  beef 
and  other  articles  for  the  ship,  with  some  dry  goods.  The 
Raven  is  hovering  around  the  harbor  continually,  and  seems 
quite  disconsolate  at  the  loss  of  her  young." 

380.  June  8,  '78.  Wednesday  last  the  rebel  schooner 
Wild  Cat,  of  14  swivels  and  40  men,  came  from  Connecticut 
to  Oyster  Bay,  and  landed  14  of  her  crew,  who  shot  several 
sheep  [at  Oak  Neck?],  but  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  ap- 
pearing in  arms,  they  made  off.     This  vessel  by  having  a 


208  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

great  number  of  oars,  takes  advantage  of  every  calm  to  cross 
over  and  pillage  the  loyalists  on  Long  Island. — Riv. 

381.  June  27,  '78.  Three  or  four  whale  boats  attempted  to 
land  at  Lloyd's  Neck  and  attack  the  wood-cutters.  They  were 
cut  off  by  the  activity  of  a  detachment  of  Delancy's  brigade, 
who  suddenly  manned  some  boats.  It  is  said  they  also  cut  off 
and  secured  two  armed  brigs,  which  were  to  cover  the  whale 
boats. — Biv. 

382.  June  29.  '78,  Gaine.  Last  Wednesday,  a  number  of 
whale  boats,  well  manned,  from  Connecticut,  convoyed  by  the 
Wild  Cat  galley  and  a  little  sloop,  formerly  the  Raven's  tender, 
made  their  appearance  at  Lloyd's  Neck,  in  order  to  harass  his 
Majesty's  wood-cutters,  and  soon  took  a  boat  then  going  out  of 
the  harbor,  which  they  endeavored  to  carry  off,  but  were  im- 
mediately pursued  and  attacked  by  a  number  of  boats  from  the 
ships,  when  the  Wild  Cat,  Raven's  tender,  and  the  wood  boat, 
were  taken,  as  also  some  of  the  whale  boats.  Thirty  men  were 
made  prisoners  and  two  killed,  without  any  loss  on  our  side. 

383.  All  gentlemen  volunteers,  able  and  willing  to  serve  his 
Majesty  King  George  III.,  in  that  respectable  regiment  called 
the  Prince  of  Wales'  Royal  American  Volunteers,  commanded 
by  his  Excellency  Brig.  Gen.  Brown,  will  hear  of  the  particu- 
lar advantages  of  that  corps  by  repairing  to  Lieut.  Col.  Pattin- 
son,  at  his  camp,  on  Lloyd's  Neck,  where  they  will  receive  a 
complete  suit  of  new  clothes,  arms,  accoutrements,  &c.,  and 
one  guinea  more  than  his  Majesty's  most  gracious  bounty. 
'Tis  more  than  probable  those  who  enlist  will  for  some  months 
be  able  to  earn  15s.  to  20s.  per  day.         Gaine^  June  29,  '78. 

384.  Hartford,  Sept.  3,  '78.  Maj.  Grey,  of  Col.  Meig's 
regiment,  brought  off  from  Lloyd's  Neck  15  tories,  and  killed 
three — all  from  Connecticut. 

385.  Sept.  7,  '78,  Gaine.  A  sloop  with  some  provisions, 
and  a  boat  loaded  with  wood,  were  taken  at  Lloyd's  Neck  last 
Wednesday,  by  a  privateer  sloop  from  Connecticut.  A  great 
abundance  of  armed  whale  boats  are  cruising  in  many  parts 
of  the  Sound,  and  'tis  feared  will  much  interrupt  our  market 
boats. 


OYSTER    BAY.  209 

386.  Sept.  12,  '78,  Riv.  A  party  of  rebels  came  over  from 
Connecticut  to  Oyster  Bay  Thursday  evening  last,  plundered 
the  house  of  Wm.  [now  Joshua]  Cock  of  goods  to  the  amount 
of  £140.  They  made  Mr.  C.  and  his  family  carry  the  goods 
near  two  miles,  to  their  whale  boat,  and  got  off  unmolested. 
And  on  Saturday  a  number  of  freebooters,  in  two  boats,  came 
over  to  Red  Spring,  and  robbed  the  houses  of  Jacob  Carpenter 
and  John  Weekes  of  a  quantity  of  valuable  effects,  and  then 
made  off;  but  returned  Saturday  evening  to  Oak  Neck,  and 
robbed  two  unfortunate  weavers.  The  principal  of  these  vil- 
lains is  named  Carehart,  who  some  time  ago  came  over  from 
Connecticut  and  pretended  to  be  a  friend  to  government,  and 
was  treated  with  the  greatest  hospitality  and  kindness  by  the 
very  persons  whose  property  he  has  carried  off. 

Nov.  30,  '78,  Poughkeepsie.  'Tis  reported  that  the  last 
fleet  of  the  enemy  that  sailed  from  New-York,  has  returned 
and  landed  on  Long  Island,  where  they  are  building  huts. 

387.  Dec.  10,  '78,  Holt.  Reports  from  Long  Island  say  the 
British  troops  are  building  huts  or  barracks  at  Jericho,*  not  far 
from  Hempstead. 

[The  Hessians  lay  about  Norwich,  Jericho,  Westbury  and 
Cedar  Swamp.  They  lay  in  Wolver  Hollow  two  or  three 
summers  and  one  winter,  and  had  tents  under  the  hill  byAndris 
Bogart's,  and  took  the  sacrament  in  the  Dutch  church. 

When  they  wanted  boards  for  barracks,  they  took  them 
wherever  they  could  find  them.  They  stripped  the  boards  off 
I.  R.'s  blacksmith  shop.  He  then  gave  them  a  couple  of 
bushels  of  potatoes,  if  they  would  not  steal  any  thing.  No 
sooner  had  they  gone,  than_he  missed  his  axe.  On  overtaking 
the  soldiers,  the  axe  and  some  geese  they  had  elsewhere  pick- 
ed up,  were  found  hid  under  the  boards.  On  his  remonstrating, 
the  officer  said,  "  They  are^such  a  pack  of  thieves,  you  can 
keep  nothing  from  them." 

The  impressing  of  teams  was  very  annoying.  No  matter 
how  urgent'your  business,  whether  ploughing,  going  to  mill,  on 
a  visit,  at  church,  or  at  a  funeral,  the  team  must  go.  I.  R.  had 
a  black  boy  and  team  impressed,  on  the  road,  to  carry  baggage 
to  Easthampton,  and  knew  not  what  had  become  of  them  till 


210  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

the  boy  returned  with  his  feet  frozen.  I.  R.  was  himself  met 
in  his  wagon  and  pressed,  but  he  resolutely  refused  to  go, 
though  a  bayonet  was  put  to  his  breast.  They  took  his  team, 
however,  which  he  gave  up  for  lost.  Some  time  after,  hear- 
ing they  were  in  New- York,  he  sent  his  brother  B.  for  them, 
who  having  no  scruples,  received  8s.  a  day  for  their  use.  One 
season  the  Hempstead  troop  took  off  nine  loads  of  his  hay ; 
and  those  from  Jericho  the  rest.f 

When  the  Hessians  first  came  to  Westbury,  a  guard  was 
set  to  protect  the  meeting-house,  but  was  Avithdrawn  at  the 
request  of  Friends.  The  officers  occasionally  attended  meet- 
ing, and  sat  very  commendable. — Ed. 

*  The  Legion  lay  at  Jericho,  and  built  a  fort  called  Fort  Nonsense,  on 
a  hill  around  Dr.  Townsend's  barn,  now  Jackson's. 

t  When  forage  was  carried  off  in  this  manner,  a  certificate  was  usu- 
ally given,  on  presenting  which  at  the  forage  office,  New-York,  the 
holder  received  his  pay  at  proclamation  prices.  Doubtless  a  great  deal 
was  taken  (especially  from  whigs)  and  never  paid  for. 

Gen.  Putnam  to  Gov.  Clinton. 

388.  Camp,  at  Reading,  Dec.  22,  '78. 

Sir — This  letter  will  be  handed  your  Excellency  bv^apt. 
Wm.  Skudder,  (see  374)  who  I  understand  has  your  commis- 
sion to  cruise  the  Sound  in  an  armed  boat  against  the  enemies 
of  the  United  States ;  under  color  of  which,  I  am  further 
informed,  he  has  within  a  few  days  been  on  to  Long  Island 
and  brought  off  a  quantity  of  goods.  These  Lieut.  Col.  Grey, 
stationed  at  Norwalk,  has  seized  and  holds  in  his  hands,  until 
some  legal  adjudication  can  be  had. 

The  particulars  of  this  affair,  and  the  conduct  of  several 
other  persons,  inhabitants  of  your  State,  will  be  reported  to 
your  Excellency  by  Brig.  Gen.  Parsons,  who  is  entirely 
acquainted  with  the  subject,  and  possessed  of  the  original 
evidence  concerning  it. 

As  this  is  a  matter  which  falls  under  your  immediate  cog- 
nizance, I  tiiouglii  pro])cr  to  make  tiiis  representation  of  it, 
and  to  inform  you  that  the  orders  of  the  Commander-in-Chief 
are,  that  no  kind  of  property  be  taken  from  any  person  under 
pretence  of  its  belonging  to  torics. 


^DYSTER    BAY,  "211 

These  orders  I  am  determined  shall  be  most  punctually 
^complied  with  by  the  troops  under  my  command,  and  that 
every  violation  of  them  shall  be  severely  punished. 

With  regard  to  those  who  are  not  accountable  to  me  for 
their  conduct,  I  shall  take  no  more  upon  myself  than  to  inform 
those  to  whom  they  are,  of  the  circumstances :  that  the  inno- 
cent may  be  exculpated,  and  blame  (if  there  be  any)  fall  only 
where  it  is  merited. 

I  wrote  to  his  Excellency,  the  Commander-in-Chief,  and 
Gov.  Trumbull,  on  the  abuses  committed  in  the  Soand  and  on 
Long  Island,  some  days  ago  ;  and  should  have  troubled  your 
Excellency  on  the  same  subject,  by  the  first  opportunity,  had 
not  this  affair  occurred. 

As  to  Mr.  Skudder  personally,  I  know  nothing  to  his  disad- 
vantage, but  have  heard  that  he  is  a  brave  man,  has  suffered 
much,  and  done  considerable  service  in  the  cause  of  his  coun- 
try. All  that  I  wish  is  that  justice  miay  take  place,  to  which  I 
know  you  are  equally  disposed. 

I  am  your  Excellency's  obedient,  humble  servant. 

389.  All  gentlemen  volunteers  and  others,  emulous  of  serv- 
ing their  King  and  country,  and  willing  to  share  the  laurels 
of  victory  with  the  brave  fellows  belonging  to  the  Queen's 
Rangers,  are  desired  to  repair  to  the  head  quarters  of  the 
regiment,  at  Oyster  Bay,  where  they  will  receive  every  en- 
couragement of  bounty,  pay,  clothing,  and  all  other  necessaries 
to  form  the  complete  soldier.  The  many  advantages  this 
corps  has  in  particular,  and  the  pubhc  honors  it  has  frequently 
received,  will  be  sufficient  to  induce  gallant  and  good  men  to 
join  the  regiment.  All  persons  bringing  an  approved  recruit 
shall  receive  one  dollar.  Dec.  2,  '78  Riv, 

390.  Lieut.  Col.  Simcoe  arrived  at  Oyster  Bay  Nov.  19  '78. 
As  it  was  understood  the  village  was  to  be  the  winter  canton- 
ment of  the  corps,  no  time  was  lost  in  fortifying  it.  The  very 
next  day  the  whole  corps  was  employed  in  cutting  fascines. 
There  was  a  centrical  hill,  which  totally  commanded  the  vil- 
lage, and  seemed  well  adapted  for  a  place  of  arms  \  the  outer 
circuit  of  this  hill,  in  the  most  accessible  places,  was  to  be  for- 
tified by  sunken  fleches,  joined  by  abattis.   and  would  have 


212  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

contained  the  whole  corps  j  the  summit  was  covered  by  a 
square  redoubt,  and  was  capable  of  holding  70  men;  platforms 
were  erected  in  each  angle,  for  the  field  pieces,  and  the  guard- 
house in  the  centre,  cased  and  filled  with  sand,  was  rendered 
musket-proof,  and  looped  so  as  to  command  the  platforms  and 
surface  of  the  parapets ;  the  ordinary  guard  of  20  was 
sufficient  for  its  defence.  Some  of  the  militia  assisted  in  work- 
ing one  day  when  Sir  Wm.  Erskine  came  to  Oyster  Bay  inten- 
tionally to  remove  the  corps  to  Jericho,  a  quarter  the  Legion  was 
to  quit  in  order  to  accompany  him  to  the  east  end  of  the  island. 
Lieut.  Col.  Simcoe  represented  to  him  that  in  case  of  the  ene- 
my's passing  the  Sound,  both  Oyster  Bay  and  Jericho  were  at 
too  great  a  distance  from  any  post  to  expect  succor,  but  that 
Jericho  was  equally  liable  to  surprise  as  Oyster  Bay ;  that  its 
being  farther  from  the  coast  was  no  advantage,  as  the  enemy, 
acquainted  with  the  country  and  in  league  with  the  disaffected 
inhabitants  of  it,  could  have  full  time  to  penetrate  undiscovered 
through  the  woods,  and  that  the  vicinity  of  Oyster  Bay  to  the 
sea  coast  would  enable  him  to  have  a  more  watchful  eye  over 
the  landing  places,  and  to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  tlie  princi- 
ples of  the  inhabitants  in  these  important  situations  ;  and  that 
provisions  from  New- York  might  be  received  by  water.  Sir 
W.  Erskine  was  pleased  to  agree  with  Lieut.  Col.  Simcoe  ;  and 
expressed  himself  highly  satisfied  with  the  means  that  had  been 
taken  to  ensure  the  post ;  and  on  his  representation  the  corps 
was  permitted  to  remain  in  its  present  cantonments.  There 
was  a  small  garrison  at  Lloyd's  Neck,  within  twelve  miles  of 
Oyster  Bay ;  a  feint  in  case  of  attack  would  serve  to  have  kept 
this  post  within  its  redoubts.  The  nearest  cantonment  was  at 
Jamaica,  where  the  British  grenadiers  lay;  this  was  almost  30 
miles  from  Oyster  Bay.  The  New  England  shore  was  not 
more  than  12,  and  in  many  places  but  7  or  8  miles  over ;  and 
there  were  many  favorable  landing  places  wuthin  a  mile  or  two 
of  Oyster  Bay.  Tlie  enemy  could  raise  any  number  of  men 
for  such  an  expedition.  Gen.  Parsons  lay  with  some  regular 
troops  in  the  vicinity,  and  there  were  whale  boats  sufficient  to 
carry  2000  men,  who  in  three  hours  might  attack  the  canton- 
ment. The  situation  was  an  anxious  one,  and  required  all  the 
vigilance  and  system  of  discipline  to  prevent  an  active  enemy 


OYSTER  BAY.  213 

from  taking  advantage  of  it.  Every  separate  quarter  was  loop- 
holed  and  surrounded  with  abattis  in  such  a  manner  that  it 
could  not  be  forced.  A  house  [the  ?^^ew  Light  Meeting  House] 
was  moved  bodily  to  the  rear,  near  to  the  beach,  where  the 
Highland  and  Grenadier  companies  were  quartered.  A  gen- 
eral plan  of  defence  was  calculated  for  the  whole  ;  and  proper 
orders  were  given  in  case  of  attack.  Patroles  were  frequently 
made ;  the  friendly  inhabitants  were  on  the  watch  ;  and  some 
depredations  having  been  committed,  convalescent  soldiers  of 
good  characters  were  sent  to  lodge  in  the  houses  of  those  in 
the  vicinity  who  chose  it ;  and  signals  were  appointed  to  be 
made  by  the  country  people  in  case  any  plunderers  were  out, 
on  which  sentinels  were  to  be  placed  on  each  barrack  and  the 
rolls  immediately  called ;  by  these  and  other  precautions,  ma- 
rauding was  effectually  prevented. 

The  situation  of  Oyster  Bay  was  extremely  well  calculated 
to  secure  the  health  of  the  soldiery:  the  water  was  excellent; 
there  was  plenty  of  vegetables  and  oysters  to  join  with  their 
salt  provisions  ;  and  bathing  did  not  a  little  contribute,  with  the 
attentions  of  the  officers  to  cleanliness,  to  render  them  in  high 
order  for  the  field  ;  nor  were  they  without  sufficient  exercise  ; 
the  garrison  in  New- York  being  in  great  want  of  forage,  Oys- 
ter Bay  became  a  central  and  safe  deposit  for  it,  and  frequent 
expeditions  towards  the  eastern  and  interior  parts  of  the  island 
were  made  to  enforce  the  orders  of  the  commander-in-chief  in 
this  respect ;  excursions  were  also  made  to  execute  other  or- 
ders relative  to  the  intercourse  with  the  inhabitants  of  the  rebel 
coast,  and  to  escort  messengers,  &c.,  between  Sir  W.  Erskine, 
who  commanded  on  the  east  end  of  the  island,  and  Jamaica. 
When  the  weather  permitted,  the  corps  was  frequently  exer- 
cised together,  particularly  in  occupying  ground,  on  the  sup- 
position of  the  enemy's  landing  to  attack  the  post;  they  were 
shown  how  to  make  and  navigate  rafts  constructed  on  the  sim- 
plest principles  and  with  the  slightest  materials.  The  troop 
were  instructed  in  the  regular  and  methodical  mode  of  dressing 
and  feeding  the  horses.  The  corps  had  been  constantly  exer- 
cised in  the  firing  motions  and  the  charging  with  bayonets  on 
their  respective  parades  ;  as  the  season  opened  they  were  as- 
sembled together ;  they  were  particularly  trained  to  attack  a 

10* 


214  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

supposed  enemy  posted  behind  railing — the  common  position  of 
the  j^ebels  ;  they  were  instructed  not  to  fire,  but  to  charge  their 
bayonets  with  their  muskets  loaded,  and  upon  their  arrival  at 
the  fence,  each  soldier  to  take  aim  at  their  opponents,  who  were 
then  supposed  to  have  been  driven  from  it.  The  hght  infan- 
try and  hussars  were  taught  to  gallop  through  woods,  and 
acting  together,  the  light  infantry  learnt  to  run  by  holding  the 
horses'  manes ;  the  cavalry  were  also  instructed,  as  the  infan- 
try lay  flat  upon  the  ground,  to  gallop  through  their  files. 

April  18.  '79,  a  party  of  Refugees  [led  by  Capt.  Bonnel, 
with  Capt.  Glover  and  Lieut.  Hubbell,]  went  from  Oyster  Bay, 
being  furnished  with  arms  agreeable  to  an  order  from  Head 
Q,uarters,  to  take  the  Generals  Parsons  and  Silliman,  from  the 
opposite  shore.  They  did  not  risk  the  attack  on  Gen.  Parsons, 
but  brought  Brigadier  Silliman  to  Oyster  Bay.  He  was  sent 
next  day  to  New- York. — Journal,  93-99. 

The  Glueen's  Rangers,  360  in  number,  in  great  health  and 
activity,  left  their  cantonments  May  18,  for  King's  Bridge. 

VALENTINE  : 
From  Lieut.  Col.  J.  G,  Simcoe,  to  Miss  Sarah  Townsend;  written  and  delivered 
at  Oyster  Bay,  L.  I.,  Valentine's  Day,  (1779.) 
Fairest  Maid  I  where  all  are  fair, 
Beauty's  pride  and  Nature's  care  j 
To  you  my  heart  I  must  resign, 
O  choose  me  for  your  Valentine  ! 

Love,  Mighty  God,  thou  know'st  full  well, 
Where  all  thy  mother's  graces  dwell, 
Where  they  inhabit  and  combine 
To  fix  tiiy  power  witii  spells  divine  ; 
Thou  know'st  what  ])ower(ul  magick  lies 
Within  the  round  of  Sarah's  eyes, 
Or  darted  thence,  like  lightning  fires, 
And  Heaven's  own  joys  around  inspires  , 
Thou  know'st  my  heart  will  always  prove 
The  shrine  of  pure,  unchanging  love  ! 
Say,  awful  God,  since  to  thy  throne 
Two  ways  tli.it  lead  are  only  known, — 
Here  gay  Variety  presides. 
And  many  a  youthful  circle  guides 
Through  paths  where  lilies,  roses  sweet, 
Bloom  and  decay  beneath  their  feet. 
Here  Constancy,  with  sober  mien. 
Regardless  of  the  flowery  scene. 
With  myrtle  crowned  that  never  fades, 
In  silence  seeks  the  ryprcss  shades, 


OYSTER    BAY.  215 

Or,  fix'd  near  Contemplation's  cell, 

Chief  with  the  Muses  loves  to  dwell, 

Leads  those  who  inward  feel  and  burn, 

And  often  clasps  the  abandon'd  urn, — 

Say,  awful  God,  didst  thou  not  prove 

My  heart  was  formed  for  constant  love  ? 

Thousaw'st  me  once  on  every  plain 

To  Delia  pour  the  artless  strain — 

Thou  wept'st  her  death  and  bad'st  me  change 

My  happier  days,  no  more  to  range 

O-er  hill,  o'er  dale,  in  sweet  employ 

Of  singing  Delia,  Nature's  joy  ; 

Thou  bad'st  me  change  the  pastoral  scette, 

Forget  my  crook  ;  with  haughty  mieo 

To  raise  the  iron  spear  of  war, 

Victim  of  grief  and  deep  despair; 

Say,  must  I  all  my  joys  forego, 

And  still  maintain  this  outward  show  f 

Say,  shall  this  breast,  that's  framed  to  feel, 

Be  ever  clad  in  horrid  steel ; 

Nor  swell  with  other  joys  than  those 

Of  conquest  o'er  unworthy  foes  ? 

Shall  no  fair  maid  with  equal  fire 

Awake  the  flames  of  soft  desire  ? 

My  bosom,  form'd  for  transport,  burn 

And  raise  my  thoughts  from  Delia's  urn? 

"  Fond  youth,"  the  God  of  Love  replies, 

"  Your  answer  take  from  Sarah's  eyes." 

[[  am  indebted  for  the  above  to  Silvanus  Miller,  Jr. — Ed.] 

391.  The  Five  Brothers,  schr.  24  tons,  Abm.  Cock,  master, 
was  taken  below  high  water  mark,  Feb.  3,  '79,  nine  miles  west 
of  Huntington  Harbor,  by  Capt.  Elderkin,  of  the  True  Blue. 
A  sloop  of  45  tons,  the  property  of  one  Youngs,  going  to  New- 
York,  was  taken  on  the  high  seas,  four  miles  west  o^  Oyster 
Bay,  Feb.  15,  '79. 

392.  March  10,  '79,  Biv.  Two  Guineas  Reward.  De- 
serted from  Capt.  Miles's  company,  3d  battalion  of  Delancy's 
brigade,  Daniel  Wingfield — had  on  a  short  blue  coat,  red  trou- 
sers, large  round  hat,  and  is  supposed  to  be  gone  on  board 
some  privateer.  Whoever  takes  him  up  and  secures  him  in 
the  Provost  till  I  can  be  acquainted  with  it,  at  the  quarters  of 
the  battahon,  Lloyd's  Neck,  shall  receive  two  guineas  reward. 

ELIJAH  MILES. 

393.  New  Haven,  May  11,  '79.     The  Charming  Sally  and 


216  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

cargo  was  taken  in  Oyster  Bay  by  T.  White,  in  a  continental 
armed  schooner. 

394.  June  16,  '79,  Riv.  On  the  night  of  9th  inst  a  party  of 
rebels  crossed  the  Sound  and  came  to  the  house  of  Clark  Cock, 
at  Oyster  Bay,  and  plundered  him  of  cash  to  a  considerable 
amount,  and  goods  to  the  value  of  £400  and  upwards. 

395.  June  23,  '79,  Riv.  Some  days  ago  a  party  of  rebels 
came  over  to  Tredwell's  farm,  L.  I.,  conducted  by  Major  Brush, 
and  carried  off  Justice  Hewlett  and  Capt.  Youngs.  Since 
which  the  refugees  went  over  to  Greenwich  and  returned  with 
thirteen  prisoners  ;  also  with  forty-eight  cattle  and  four  horses. 
The  mihtia  guard  took  a  whale  boat  with  three  solitary  Jona- 
thans on  board. 

396.  June  28,  '79,  Gaine.  Last  week  a  whale  boat  came 
near  to  Musquito  Cove  to  carry  off  a  boat  lying  there.  Being 
observed  to  approach,  a  few  men  from  the  shore  got  on  board 
unperceived,  with  arms,  and  as  soon  as  the  whale  boat  came 
nigh  enough,  gave  the  rebels  such  a  dose,  that  three  were 
killed  the  first  fire  ;  when  they  went  off  with  the  greatest  pre- 
cipitation. 

397.  Jidy  3,  '79,  Riv.  Last  Monday  night  a  party  of  rebels, 
supposed  from  Horse  Neck,  headed  by  one  Benjamin  Kirby, 
(whose  father  lives  on  Long  Island,  near  where  he  landed,  and 
is  known  to  be  an  atrocious  rebel,)  at  12  at  night  attacked  the 
house  of  Abraham  Walton,  Esq.,  at  Pembroke,  Musquito  Cove, 
forced  open  the  door  with  the  butt  ends  of  their  muskets,  seized 
upon  Mr.  Walton's  person,  who  was  much  indisposed  in  bed, 
used  him  coarsely,  forced  him  to  walk  four  miles,  plundered  the 
house,  took  away  all  the  silver  plate  they  could  find,  and  de- 
manded Mrs.  Walton's  money,  which  she  delivered.  They  then 
proceeded  to  the  neighbors,  as  Dr.  Brooks,  Albert  Coles,  and 
eight  more  very  respectable  and  loyal  inhabitants,  and  carried 
them  all  off  together  to  Connecticut,  where  they  were  to  be  in- 
terrogated by  Gen.  Lewis  Morris,  of  Morrisiana.  Kirby  is  a 
native  of  Long  Island,  and  had  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance, 
but  on  d'Estaing's  arrival  at  Sandy  Hook,  lie  revolted  to  Jona- 
than. 


OYSTER    BAY.  217 

398.  July  31,79,  Riv.  Last  Tuesday  morning,  2  o'clock,  John 
Townsend,  Esq.,  of  Oyster  Bay,  was  carried  oflf  by  the  rebels, 
[led  by  Jonas  Youngs.]  who  robbed  his  house  of  many  valua- 
ble articles,  [silver  tankard,  linen,  dec]  and  partly  demolished 
it.  At  the  same  time  W.  Suiton,  of  Maroneck,  and  a  young 
man  named  Arnold  Fleet,  were  carried  off  to  Stamford  and  pa- 
roled. [The  men  carried  their  boat  over  the  beSch.  Their 
sentinel,  not  hearing  the  signal,  was  left  behind,  and  wandered 
about  on  Mill  Neck  till  starvation  forced  him  to  give  up.] 

July  31.  '79,  Riv.  The  frigate  Restoration  (formerly  Oli- 
ver Cromwell)  is  now  fitting  for  sea,  and  in  six  days  will  join 
the  Associated  Refugee  Fleet  in  Huntington  Harbor,  and  in- 
tends soon  to  pay  a  visit  to  the  rebel  coast.  All  good  sea- 
men will  receive  five  guineas  advance  and  £3  sterling  per 
month,  and  one  share  of  all  property  taken  from  His  Majesty's 
revolted  subjects. 

399.  Capt,  Sandford's  Company  of  Bucks  county  Dragoons, 
Capt.  Diemar's  hussars,  and  the  Q,ueen's  Rangers,  all  under 
command  of  Lieut.  Col.  Simcoe,  marched  from  King's  Bridge 
for  Oyster  Bay.  Aug.  13.  '79  ;  the  Cavalry  and  cannon  by  the 
route  of  Hell  Gate,  and  the  Infantry  by  Frog's  Neck,  and  ar- 
rived at  Oyster  Bay  the  17th.  Simcoe  left  Oyster  Bay  Oct. 
19.  His  cavalry  marched  to  Jericho,  where  they  remained  un- 
der Lieut.  Col.  Tarlton,  and  the  infantry  to  Jamaica,  which 
proceeded  to  Yellow  Hook,  and  embarked  the  24th.  Shortly 
after  the  hussars  of  the  Q,ueen's  Rangers  and  Capt.  Sand- 
ford's  troop  went  from  Jericho  to  Staten  Island. — Simcoe's 
Jour7ial,  p.  110. 

400.  Sept.  8,  '79,  New  Haven.  A  whale  boat  crossed  the 
Sound  a  few  nights  past,  and  brought  off  from  near  Lloyd's 
Neck  thirteen  men  and  some  plunder.  Among  the  prisoners 
was  one  Glover,  that  headed  the  party  which  carried  off  Gen. 
SilUman  and  son. 

401.  New  London,  Oct.  6,  '79.  Last  Monday  five  vessels 
went  into  Oyster  Bay  and  captured  a  guard  brig  pierced  for 
14  guns,  but  had  only  10  mounted,  a  sloop  of  6  guns,  com- 
manded by  Samuel  Rogers,  (who  has  been  thrice  taken  and 
brought  to  this  town  since  March  last,)  three  other  sloops  and 


218  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

a  schooner,  taken  from  under  a  two-gun  battery  [on  Lloyd's 
Neck] ;  three  of  the  prizes  are  laden  with  wood,  and  one,  a 
large  valuable  Bermudian  built  sloop,  in  ballast.  The  prizes 
are  all  arrived  in  safe  port. 

402.  FishkiU,  Dec.  9,  '79.  On  the  evening  of  Nov.  4,  about 
25  volunteers  under  Capts.  Hawley,  Lockwood.  and  Jones,  and 
Lts.  Jackson  and  Bishop,  crossed  the  Sound  from  Newfield 
(since  Bridgeport)  to  Stony  Brook,  near  Smithtown,  and 
marched  to  the  house  of  the  Hon.  Thomas  Jones,  Justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  New- York,  at  Fort  Neck,  (now  Thomas  F. 
Jones',)  where  they  arrived  about  9  o'clock  on  the  evening  of 
the  6th,  hiding  in  the  woods  by  day.  The  whole  distance  was 
52  miles.  There  was  a  ball  in  the  house,  and  the  noise  of  mu- 
sic and  dancing  prevented  the  approach  of  the  adventurers  be- 
ing heard.  Capt.  Haw^ley  knocked  at  the  door,  and  receiving 
no  answer,  forced  it.  and  found  Judge  Jones  standing  in  the  en- 
try. He  told  him  he  was  his  prisoner,  and  immediately  con- 
ducted him  off  and  a  young  man  named  Hewlett.  A  guard  of 
soldiers  was  posted  at  a  small  distance  from  their  road.  When 
they  came  near  the  spot,  the  Judge  hemmed  very  loud,  but 
was  forbidden  to  repeat  it.  He  did,  however,  but  on  being  fur- 
ther threatened,  desisted.  An  alarm  arose,  which  obliged  the 
men  to  retreat  rapidly,  travelling  30  miles  the  same  evening, 
and  to  secrete  themselves  next  day,  by  which  time  the  British 
light-horse  were  near.  The  next  evening  they  reached  their 
boats,  having  taken  two  prisoners  more,  and  arrived  safe  at 
Black  Rock,  Fairfield,  on  the  8th,  except  six  men  in  the  rear, 
who  were  overtaken  and  captured  by  the  light-horse.  Judge 
J.  was  taken  to  Middletown,  and  in  May,  '80,  was  exchanged 
for  Gen.  Silliman,  a  prisoner  at  Flatbush.  Mr.  H.  was  ex- 
changed for  the  General's  son,  one  Washburn  being  thrown  in 
Eis  a  make-weight.  After  the  exchange,  the  Judge  and  General 
dined  together. 

(See  Thompson,  I.  208.)  [This  was  not  the  first  time  Jones  was  in 
durance  in  Connecticut,  for  it  appears  that,"  Sept.  24, '76,  he  was  in  the 
hands  of  the  rebels,  and  Nov.  15,  John  Rapalje,  of  Brooklyn,  in  jail  at 
Norwich,  was  permitted  to  go  to  Long  Island  and  bring  to  Judge  Jones  and 
others  with  him  in  Norwich,  such  supplies  of  clothing  and  other  necessa- 
ries as  they  might  want ;  but  in  Dec,  '76,  the  gentlemen  sent  from  Long 


OYSTER    BAY.  219 

Island   to  Norwich  by  Washington,  had  liberty  to  return  home  on  pa- 
role."—Ed.] 

403.  New  Have7i,  Nov.  24,'79.  Monday  sen'nit,  two  small  pri- 
vateers of  4  guns  each,  commanded  by  Capts.  Lockwood  and 
Johnson,  ran  into  Oyster  Bay  under  British  colors,  where  were 
four  wood  vessels  under  protection  of  a  large  8  gun  brig,  who 
asked  the  privateers  ''  Where  from  ?"  and  on  being  answered 
from  New- York,  they  were  permitted  to  run  along  the  brig 
unsuspected,  and  boarding  her,  the  people  were  surprised  into 
an  immediate  surrender  without  even  firing  a  gun,  though 
manned  w^ith  20  stout  fellows ;  on  which  the  other  vessels  also 
submitted,  and  \vere  all  brought  out  of  port  destined  for  Nor- 
Walk  or  Stamford ;  but  on  being  pursued  by  some  armed  vessels 
from  Huntington  Harbor,  the  brig  unluckily  run  on  a  reef  of 
rocks  near  Norwalk  Harbor,  and  fell  again  into  the  enemy's 
hands,  who  got  her  off  and  took  her  away.  The  other  prizes 
got  safe  into  port. 

The  Lively,  of  70  tons  and  a  cargo  of  salt,  was  taken  in  Oys- 
ter Bay,  Dec.  7,  '79. 

404.  June  17,  '80,  Hiv.  10  guineas  reward  and  reasonable 
charges  paid.  Stolen  from  the  barn  of  Samuel  Cock,  Oyster 
Bay,  on  the  night  of  the  14tli,  a  bright  bay  stallion;  from  Geo. 
Underhill;  a  bay  stallion  ;  from  Daniel  Underbill,  a  black  mare ; 
from  John  Weekes,  a  bay  horse. 

405.  Aug.  23,  '80.  Simcoe  returned  from  the  east  end  of 
the  Island  to  Oyster  Bay,  where  he  saw  Major  Andre,  and  re- 
mained there  and  in  its  vicinity  tilljSept.  22,  when  he  marched 
to  Jamaica  and  crossed  to  Staten  Island,  Oct.  8.     Jour.,  p.  150. 

406.  Dec.  11,  '80.  Solomon  Aaron,  living  at  Mr.  Willis's, 
Jericho,  is  intent  to  leave.  Those  indebted  to  him  &  Co.,  are 
desired  to  discharge  their  accounts. 

407.  As  there  were  many  Loyalists  who,  from  peculiar  cir- 
cumstances, were  unwilling  to  become  soldiers  by  profession, 
though  ardently  inclined  to  take  up  arms  and  contribute  their 
aid  toward  reducing  the  rebels ;  to  embody  and  employ  these, 
the  Hon.  Board  of  Associated  Loyalists  was  established 
Dec.  28,  '80,  Wm.  Franklin  (former  Governor  of  New  Jersey 
and  son  of  Dr.  F.)  President,  w^ith  a  view  to  annoy  the  sea 


220  AR3IED    OCCUPATION. 

coast  of  the  revolted  provinces  and  distress  their  trade,  under  a 
commission  from  Sir  H.  Clinton.  The  important  post  of  Lloyd's 
Neck  was  put  under  their  direction,  and  they  were  furnished 
with  suitable  armed  vessels,  provisions,  arms  and  ammunition, 
to  defend  the  post  and  carry  on  enterprises  against  the  rebels. 

Conditions. 

1.  Each  associator  was  to  receive  200  acres  of  land  in  North 
America. 

2.  All  captures  made  by  them  to  be  their  own  property. 

3.  Prisoners  taken  by  them  to  be  exchanged  for  such  Loy- 
alists as  the  Board  may  name. 

4.  The  sick  and  wounded  to  have  the  benefit  of  the  King's 
hospital.  A  skilful  surgeon,  with  a  complete  medical  chest,  to 
reside  at  Lloyd's  Neck,  and  accompany  the  associators  in  their 
excursions. 

5.  It  will  be  their  care  to  stop  those  distinguished  cruelties 
with  which  colonial  loyalists  are  treated,  when  in  the  hands  of 
rebels,  under  the  distinction  of  prisoners  of  war  and  prisoners 
o^  state.  The  Directors  will  omit  nothing  to  make  the  rebels 
feel  the  just  vengeance  due  such  enormities. —  Gaine. 

408.  Feb.  23,  '81.  Lt.  Col.  Upham,  Deputy  Inspector  Ge- 
neral of  refugees,  at  Lloyd's  Neck,  (who  distributed  provisions, 
&c.,  among  them.)  had  an  address  of  thanks  singned  by 

Col.  THO'S  GILBERT,  and 
Capt.  JOHN  COCHRAN. 

409.  March  31,  '81,  Riv.  Capt.  Ives,  of  the  Associated 
Loyalists,  with  22  men  in  an  unarmed  schooner,  commanded 
by  Capt.  Church,  was  sailing  from  City  Island  to  Lloyd's  Neck, 
in  company  with  two  other  vessels  armed  with  swivels,  when 
he  was  attacked  by  four  whale  boats  full  of  men,  from  Stamford, 
which  he  beat  off  with  muskets  only,  although  the  rebels  took 
the  armed  vessels  and  turned  the  swivels  against  Ives'  party. 
In  the  midst  of  the  firing,  two  rebels  were  seen  to  fall  overboard, 
and  three  others  appeared  disabled.  Two  boats,  which  after- 
wards drifted  ashore,  were  bespattered  with  blood,  and  shot 
through  in  several  places.  One  had  a  dead  man,  four  muskets 
and  several  coats  in  it.  Next  morning  another  man  was  found 
dead  on  the  shore.     During  the  contest,  Capt.  Church  was 


OYSTER    BAY.  221 

forced  to  run  his  schooner  on  shore,  when  the  rebels  landed  a 
party  to  annoy  the  loyahsts  more  effectually,  but  were  driven 
off  by  the  militia  of  Long  Island,  who  readily  turned  out. 

410.  April  6,  '81.  At  Lloyd's  Neck  are  assembled  800  men, 
chiefly  refugees  and  deserters  from  the  American  army.  About 
500  of  these  are  properly  armed.  Their  naval  guard  consists 
of  one  vessel  of  16  guns,  two  small  privateers,  and  one  galley. 
—  Col.  Talmadge. 

Just  before  the  war,  the  Lloyds  had  cut  off  100  acres  of  land 
around  where  the  fort  was  afterwards  built,  in  '78,  so  that  half 
a  mile  east  of  the  fort  was  clear.  Here  was  the  parade.  South 
were  the  huts  and  gardens  on  a  declivity.  The  vegetables 
were  left  in  good  condition  when  the  place  was  evacuated. 
The  wood  had  mostly  been  cut  off.  The  fort  had  a  well  130 
feet  deep,  which  Huntington  was  assessed  £176  to  pay  for  the 
digging  of. 

Two  farms  on  Lloyd's  Neck  (Henry  and  James's)  had  pro- 
tections from  Howe ;  the  rest  owned  by  John,  who  lived  at 
Stamford,  and  Joseph,*  at  Hartford,  was  confiscated,  and  the 
wood  cut  off  for  fuel  for  the  King's  troops.  The  wood  was  ex- 
ceedingly large,  some  trees  growing  40  or  50  feet  before  a 
branch  put  out.  All  this  wood  (say  2000  cords,)  was  cut  down 
most  wastefully.  The  wood-cutters  were  great  rogues,  and 
would  roll  big  logs  they  could  not  split,  into  the  cords ;  and 
when  these  were  left  by  the  wagoners,  they  would  roll  them 
into  other  cords,  and  thus  make  them  serve  three  or  four  times. 
*  Joseph  had  a  negro  slave,  Jupiter  Hammon,  who  was  quite  a  lite- 
rary character,  and  published  at  Hartford,  Dec,  '79,  an  essay  on  the  par- 
able of  the  Ten  Virgins. — Ed. 

July  12,  '81.  Count  de  Barras,  being  at  Newport,  detached 
three  frigates  and  250  land  troops  to  drive  the  loyalists  from 
their  fort  at  Lloyd's  Neck.  The  expedition  was  joined  in  the 
Sound  by  several  boats  with  American  volunteers  and  pilots 
from  Fairfield.  They  landed  on  the  morning  of  the  12th,  when 
it  was  discovered  that  the  place  was  stronger  than  had  been  sup- 
posed, and  not  to  be  carried  without  cannon,  which  had  not 
been  provided.  They  were  also  ignorant  [?]  of  the  true  point 
of  attack.  Two  or  three  men  were  wounded  by  a  cannon  shot 
from  the  fort,  when  the  party  re-embarked.     The  British  ves- 


222 


ARMED    OCCUPATION. 


sels  went  up  a  river  [?]  beyond  the  reach  of  the  French  fri- 
gates.— Sparks^s  Washington,  VIII.  115. 

Plan  of  the  attack  on  Lloyd's  Neck. 

LONG  ISLAND  SOUND. 


o 

Oyster  Bay 


Q  Co[(€Spriiig. 


a.  Position  of  Wra.  Ludlamat  work  in  his  harvest  field  when  he  saw  the 

attack. 
Fort  Franklin,  designed  to  protect  the  wood-cutters,  and  refugees  from 

JNew  England,  and  used  as  a  forage  depot. 

Probable  landing  place  of  the  French. 

A  low  narrow  beach  over  which  Ludlam  saw  the  action  between  the 

vessels,  at  h. 

Brig  of  8  or  10  guns  under  protection  of  the  fort. 

A  large  sloop  attacking  the  fort  on  the  west  side,  the  fort  bringing  one 

gun  to  bear  on  her. 
g.  Probable  place  where  the  British  armed  schooner  landed  her  guns,  and 

mounted  them  in  a  battery  on  shore,  and  so  beat  off  a  40  gun  ship 

that  came  to  the  attack. 
h.  A  40  gun  ship  attacking  the  British  vessels,  which  are  trying  to  keep 

out  of  her  way. 
Narrative  of  the  above  affair  as  related  tome  by  Wm.  Ludlam, 
an  eye  witness,  aged  90. 

Hcathcoat  Muirson,  of  Sctauket,   had   made  himself  ac- 
quainted with  the  fort  at  Lloyd's  Neck.     It  was  a  small  square 


OYSTER    BAY.  223 

fori  and  picketed,  i.  e.,  had  trunks  of  trees  with  their  branches 
sharpened  set  in  the  sides.  It  had  only  two  guns  mounted, 
and  these  on  the  west  side,  when  Muirson  saw  it ;  but  on  the 
very  evening  before  the  French  landed,  the  British  had  just  fin- 
ished mounting  two  guns  on  the  east  side.  It  was  this  that  frus- 
trated the  attempt,  and  not  ignorance  of  the  true  point  of  attack. 
They  supposed  they  were  marching  to  the  side  where  no  guns 
were  mounted.  Muirson,  the  guide,  was  examining  the  works 
with  a  spy-glass,  when  a  shot  from  the  fort  took  oflf  his  arm, 
which  was  left  on  the  ground,  and  supposed  to  belong  to  some 
high  officer.  He  died  of  the  wound,  but  described  the  spot  so 
exactly,  that  his  sister  afterwards  found  the  spy-glass  in  a  bunch 
of  briers  where  he  had  thrown  it. 

Lt.  Col.  Upham,  Coiii'dnt.  at  Lloyd's  Neck,  to  Wm.  Franklin  : 

Fort  Franklin,  July  13,  '81. 

Three  large  ships,  five  armed  brigs,  and  other  vessels  ap- 
peared in  Huntington  Harbor,  July  12,  and  landed  at  8  o'clock 
450  men,  mostly  French,  on  the  back  of  Lloyd's  Neck,  two 
miles  from  the  fort.  At  11,  they  formed  in  front  of  the  fort,  at 
a  distance  of  400  yards,  in  open  view.  Fearing  they  would  get 
possession  of  a  height  on  the  right,  the  fort  fired  grape  shot 
from  two  twelve  pounders,  when  the  French  suddenly  retreated. 
They  left  on  the  ground  where  they  halted  to  dress  the  wound- 
ed, a  number  of  surgeon's  instruments,  a  great  quantity  of  lint, 
bandages,  &c.,  a  bayonet,  sword,  and  a  very  large  quantity  of 
port-fire  and  other  materials  for  burning  our  houses  ;  also,  some 
few  fragments  of  coats  and  shirts ;  and  the  grass  besmeared 
with  blood. 

I  called  on  the  Huntington  militia,  but  saw  nothing  of  them, 
nor  was  I  disappointed.  Capt.  Youngs'  troop,  and  Capt.  Van 
Wyck's  company  of  foot,  came  last  evening  to  our  assistance. 
They  posted  themselves  on  West  Neck,  and  behaved  exceed- 
ing well.  Many  refugees  in  our  vicinity  came  likewise  to  our 
assistance. 

411.  July  2d,  '81,  Riv.  The  night  the  French  and  rebels 
left  Long  Island,  some  of  their  followers,  who  called  themselves 
••  skmners."  stopped  at  the  house  of  John  Butler,  near  Oyster 


224  ARMED    OCCUPATIOrf. 

Bay,  and  on  his  denying  he  had  any  money,  fixed  ropes  to  his 
and  his  son's  necks,  and  threw  them  over  the  door,  and  had 
well  nigh  strangled  both,  to  extort  a  confession  where  their 
cash  was  hid,  but  they  continuing  inflexible,  were  released  from 
torture,  when  the  "  skinners"  fleeced  him  of  plate  and  goods  to 
the  amount  of  £300.  Mr.  Farley  and  Wright  have  since  been 
robbed  of  considerable  sums  of  money  by  the  same  set  of  "  skin- 
ners." 

412.  July  25,  ^81,  Bii\  Two  whale  boats,  the  Association 
and  Henry  Clinton,  crossed  from  Fort  Franklin,  on  Lloyd's 
Neck,  to  Norwalk,  and  landed  thirty-eight  men,  and  leaving 
some  boats  concealed  on  the  shore,  returned  to  Long  Island  to 
escape  observation,  but  were  to  be  back  again  at  a  given  hour. 
The  party  marched  five  miles  from  the  shore  and  remained  hid 
in  the  woods  till  two  o'clock.  When  the  good  people  of  Mid- 
dlesex [now  Darien]  were  assembled  and  devoutly  praying  for 
their  great  and  good  ally,  Capt.  Frost  surrounded  the  sanctu- 
ary, and  took  fifty  notorious  rebels — their  Rev.  teacher  at  their 
head.  Forty  horses  ready  saddled  were  taken  care  of  at  the 
same  time,  and  all  safely  brought  to  Long  Island.  [They 
were  all  ironed,  two  and  two,  on  the  green  in  front  of  Wooden's, 
Oyster  Bay,  and  so  marched  to  the  Provost.  We  subjoin  a 
poetic  version  of  the  affair,  written  by  Samuel  St.  John,  school- 
master, one  of  the  prisoners,  w^hich  was  kindly  hunted  up  for  us 
by  E.G.  Herrick,  librarian  of  Yale  College. — Ed.'] 

July,  the  twenty-second  day, 

Where  Christians  meet  to  sing  and  pray, 

In  seventeen  hundred  eighty-one, 

A  horrid  action  was  begun  ; 

While  to  the  Lord  liiey  sing  and  pray, 

The  Tories,  who  in  ambusli  lay, 

Beset  the  house  witii  brazen  face, 

At  Middlesex,  it  was  the  place. 

A  guard  was  placed  the  house  before, 

Likewise  behind  and  at  each  door. 

Then  void  of  shame,  tlioso  men  of  sin 

The  sacred  temple  entered  in. 

The  Rev.  Mather  closed  his  book, 

How  did  the  congregation  look  I 

Those  demons  plundered  wiiat  they  could. 

Either  in  silver  or  in  gold. 

The  silver  buckles  which  we  use 

Both  at  the  knees  and  on  the  shoes, 


OYSTER    B^Y.  225 


These  caitiffs  took  them  in  their  rage — 

Had  no  respect  to  sex  or  age, 

And  as  they  all  were  searching  round, 

They  several  silver  watches  found. 

They  who  were  placed  as  guards  without, 

Like  raging  devils  ranged  about, 

Took  forty  horses  to  the  shoie, 

Not  many  either  less  or  more, 

With  bridles,  saddles,  pillioos  on, 

In  a  few  minutes  all  was  done. 

The  men  whom  hence  they  took  away, 

Upon  this  sacred,  awful  day. 

Was  forty-eight,  besides  two  more 

They  chanced  to  find  upon  the  shore. 

On  board  the  shipping  they  were  sent, 

But  greatly  feared  the  sad  event. 

They  hoisted  sail,  the  Sound  they  crossed, 

And  near  Lloyd's  Neck  they  anchored  first ; 

Then  every  man  must  tell  his  name  ; 

A  list  they  took,  and  kept  the  same. 

Now  twenty-four  of  fifty  men 

Were  ordered  home  again  ; 

The  twenty-six  who  staid  behind, 

Most  cruelly  they  were  confined  ; 

On  board  the  brig  were  ordered  quick, 

And  were  confined  beneath  the  deck — 

A  nasty  hole  with  filth  besmeared. 

But  'twas  no  more  than  what  we  feared  : 

Sad  the  confinement,  dark  the  night, 

But  then  the  Devil  thought  'twas  right;  *  ♦  • 

But  to  return  whence  I  left  off, 

They  at  our  misery  made  a  scoflT, 

Like  raving  devils  tore  about. 

Swearing  they'd  tear  our  vitals  out, 

That  they'd  no  quarter  ever  give, 

Nor  let  a  cursed  rebel  live  ; 

But  would  their  joints  in  pieces  cut. 

Then  round  the  deck  like  devils  strut. 

July,  the  four-and-twentieth  day, 

We  all  were  sent  to  Oyster  Bay. 

To  increase  our  pains,  and  make  us  worse, 

They  ironed  just  six  pair  of  us; 

But  as  they  wanted  just  one  pair, 

An  iron  stirrup  lying  there, 

•Twas  took,  and  on  an  anvil  laid, 

On  which  they  with  a  liammer  paid; 

And  as  they  beat  it  inch  by  inch. 

It  bruised  their  wrists,  at  which  they  flinch. 

Those  wretched  caitiffs  standing  by, 

Would  laugh  to  bear  the  sufferers  cry  ; 


226  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

Although  T  call  them  not  by  name, 

From  Fairfield  county  many  came; 

They  were  delighted  with  the  rout, 

To  see  us  rebels  kicked  about. 

Complaint  was  made  by  many  now, 

But  they  were  stript  and  plundered  too; 

The  officers  heard  them  complain, 

Said  all  should  be  restored  again  ; 

But  the  complaint  they  soon  repeat, 

And  found  their  promise  was  a  cheat ! 

Said  they,  "  Those  men  are  gone  ashore  ;" 

Whereat,  we  made  complaint  no  more. 

A  man  on  board  soon  after  came, 

I  think  'twas  Joseph  Smith  by  name  j 

For  silver  buckles  which  we  lost. 

He  gave  us  brass  of  little  cost, 

With  knives  to  use  whene'er  we  feed. 

Which  tools  we  very  seldom  need. 

Said  he,  "  The  presents  you  may  have, 

And  look  upon  them  freely  gave. 

Instead  of  %vhat  we  took  from  you, 

'Tis  ten  times  more  than  what  was  due." 

Next  night  we  travelled  in  the  rain, 
We  begged  for  shelter,  but  in  vain; 
Dark  was  the  night,  the  storm  was  bad. 
No  food  nor  shelter  could  be  had. 
Of  spirits  much  we  stood  in  need. 
But  found  'twas  but  in  vain  to  plead, 
Though  almost  naked  to  the  skin, 
A  dismal  pickle  we  were  in. 
Then  to  the  Half-way-House  we  came, 
The  Half-way-House  'tis  called  by  name  ; 
The  people  civilly  behave. 
Made  a  good  fire,  some  brandy  gave. 
Of  which  we  greatly  stood  in  need, 
As  we  were  wet  and  cold  indeed. 
But  ere  the  house  we  did  obtain, 
We  trembled  so  with  cold  and  rain. 
Our  irons  jingled — well  they  might  — 
We  shivered  so  that  stormy  night. 
In  half  an  hour,  or  thereabout, 
The  orders  were,  "  Come,  all  turn  out, 
Ye  rebel  prisoners,  shabbed  crew. 
To  loiter  thus  will  never  do." 
'Twas  now  about  the  break  of  day. 
We  all  were  forced  to  march  away; 
Witli  what  they  ordered  we  comply, 
Though  cold,  nor  yet  one  quarter  dry  ; 
We  made  a  halt  one  half  mile  short 
Of  what  is  termed  Brucklyn's  Fort ; 


OYSTER    BAY.  227 


Where  we  were  hurried  through  the  street  : 

Some  overtook  us,  some  we  meet. 

We,  now  traversing  the  parade, 

The  awful  figure  which  we  made 

Caus'd  laughter,  mirth,  and  merriment, 

And  some  would  curse  us  as  they  went. 

Their  grandest  fort  was  now  hard  by  ns. 

They  showed  us  that  to  terrify  us  ; 

They  showed  us  all  their  bulwarks  there. 

To  let  us  know  how  strong  they  were  j 

Supposing  we  must  thence  conclude 

That  Britain  ne'er  could  be  subdued, 

Then  to  the  guard-house  we  were  led, 

Where  each  received  a  crumb  of  bread  ; 

Not  quite  one  mouthful,  I  believe. 

For  every  man,  we  did  receive. 

We  to  the  ferry  came  at  last, 

Viewed  by  spectators,  as  we  past. 

The  gazing  rabble,  tory  throng, 

Would  curse  us  as  wc  passed  along. 

In  boats  the  ferry  soon  we  passed. 

And  at  New-York  arrived  at  last. 

As  through  the  streets  we  passed  along, 

Ten  thousand  curses  round  us  rung ; 

But  some  would  laugh,  and  some  would  sneer. 

And  some  would  grin,  and  some  would  leer; 

A  mixed  mob,  a  medley  crew, 

I  guess,  as  e'er  the  devil  knew. 

To  the  Provost  we  then  were  hauled, 

Though  we,  of  war,  were  prisoners  called  ; 

Our  irons  now  were  ordered  off, 

The  standers-by  would  swear  and  scoff. 

But  O  I  what  company  we  found  ; 

With  great  surprise  we  looked  around  ! 

I  must  conclude  that  in  this  place, 

We  found  the  worst  of  Adam's  race  : 

Thieves,  murderers,  and  pickpockets  too. 

And  every  thing  that's  bad  they'd  do. 

One  of  our  men  found  to  his  cost ; 

Three  pounds,  York  money,  he  had  lost. 

His  pocket  picked,  I  guess,  before 

We  had  been  there  one  single  hour. 

We  then  found  out,  but  thought  it  strange. 

We  never  were  to  be  exchanged 

By  a  cartel,  but  for  some  men 

Whom  they  desired  to  have  again — 

A  pack  with  whom  they  well  agree. 

Who  are  called  the  loyal  company 

Or  "  Loyalists  Associated," 

As  by  themselves  incorporat«d. 


ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

Our  food  was  called  two-thirds  in  weight 

Of  what  a  soldier  has  to  eat ; 

We  had  no  blankets  in  our  need, 

Till  a  kind  friend  did  intercede  : 

Said  he,  "  The  prisoners  suffer  so, 

'Tis  quite  unkind  and  cruel  too  ; 

I'm  sure  it  makes  my  heart  to  bleed, 

So  great  their  hardship  and  theirneed." 

And  well  to  us  was  the  event. 

Five  blankets  soon  to  us  were  sent ; 

Small  the  allowance,  very  small, 

But  better  far  than  none  at  all. 

An  oaken  plank,  it  was  our  bed. 

And  very  scanty  we  were  fed. 

In  seven  days,  or  thereabout. 

One  Jonas  Weed  was  taken  out, 

And  to  his  friends  he  was  resigned, 

But  many  still  were  kept  behind  ; 

Soon  after  which  some  were  paroled, 

Too  tedious  wholly  to  be  told  5 

But  the  small-pox  to  some  they  gave, 

Nor  tried  at  all  their  lives  to  save  ; 

But  rather  sought  their  desolation, 

As  they  denied  inoculation. 

To  the  small-pox  there  did  succeed 

A  putrid  fever,  bad  indeed. 

As  they  before  were  weak  and  low. 

Soon  from  the  stage  of  life  they  go. 

For  wood  we  greatly  stood  in  need. 

For  which  we  earnestly  did  plead  : 

But  one-tenth  part  of  what  we  wanted 

Of  wood,  to  us  was  granted  : 

The  boiling  kettles  which  we  had. 

They  had  no  cover  good  or  bad  ; 

The  worst  of  rum  that  could  be  bought, 

For  a  great  price  to  us  was  brought  ; 

For  bread,  the  milk  and  sugar  too. 

We  had  to  pay  four  times  their  due. 

The  cash  and  clothing  which  were  sent, 

These  wretched  creatures  did  prevent, 

About  a  month,  I  do  believe, 

Before  we  either  did  receive: 

But  in  New-York  some  friends  did  try 

To  show  their  generosity  : 

They  very  friendly  were  inclined, 

But  knowing  they  must  be  confined 

If  what  they  gave  was  ever  known, 

(So  wicked  are  the  tories  grown,) 

Some  time  it  was,  in  the  month  November, 

But  just  the  day  I  can't  remember, 


OVSTER    BAV.  229 

Full  forty  of  us  were  confined, 
(So  cruelly  they  were  iriclined.) 
In  a  small  room,  six  days  complete, 
With  very  little  food  to  eat, 
Because  there  had  been  two  or  three, 
Who  were  not  of  our  company, 
Who  did  attempt  the  other  day, 
The  tories  said,  to  get  away. 
Full  eighteen  days,  or  something  more, 
We  fiirly  were  exchanged,  before 
Of  the  exchange  they  let  us  know, 
Or  from  that  place  of  bondage  go, 
That  of  the  number  twenty-five, 
But  just  nineteen  were  left  alive, 
Four  days  before  December's  gone, 
In  seventeen  hundred  eighty-one. 

413.  Lt.  J.  Hull,  of  Col.  Fitch's  corps,  crossed  the  Sound  on 
the  evening  of  November  24,  '81,  in  a  whale  boat  navigated  by- 
eight  men,  and  landed  near  Hempstead  Bay.  where  he  left  his 
boat  with  two  men.  and  with  the  others  marched  to  Musquito 
Cove,  which  makes  in  Hempstead  Bay.  (the  entrance  of  which 
was  guarded  by  an  armed  vessel.)  where  they  found  a  canoe, 
on  board  of  which  they  embarked  and  boarded  nine  vessels 
which  lay  in  the  cove,  and  made  prisoners  of  sixteen  men;  and 
finding  it  impracticable  to  bring  off  the  vessels,  or  any  part  of 
them,  he  ransomed  them,  paroled  his  prisoners,  and  returned 
without  loss. —  Con.  Gaz.  Dec.  14. 

414.  Dec.  3,  '81,  Riv.  Some  whale  boats  came  to  Oyster 
Bay  harbor  from  Connecticut  last  Monday  night,  and  unrigged 
Mr.  Sheddan's  boat  [at  Ship  Point,]  and  carried  off  another, 
which  was  ransomed  for  £230.  [Previous  to  this,  Capt.  S.  had 
a  vessel  run  ashore  at  Oak  N.  and  set  on  fire  by  American  pri- 
vateers.   It  was  extinguished. — Ed.'] 

415.  April  20.  '82,  Riv.  Two  guineas  reward,  and  no  ques- 
tions asked.  Stolen,  April  5,  from  the  stable  of  Nath.  Coles, 
near  Oyster  Bay,  a  fast  trotting  horse,  supposed  to  have  crossed 
White  Stone  Ferry. 

416.  King's  American  Dragoons. 

Any  likely  and  spirited  young  lads  who  are  desirous  of  dis- 
tinguishing themselves  by  serving  their  King  and  country,  and 
who  prefer  riding  on  horseback  to  going  on  foot,  have  an  oppor- 
tunity of  gratifying  their  inclinations  :  10  guineas  to  volunteers 

11 


280  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

or  5  to  any  one  who  brings  a  recruit,  and  5  to  the  recruit.  For 
the  convenience  of  those  who  may  come  from  the  continent  by 
the  way  of  Lloyd's  Neck,  an  officer  will  constantly  remain  at 
that  Fost—Biv.,  July  24,  '82.     (See  203.) 

417.  Sep.  18,  '82,  Biv.  As  Capt.  Thomas,  of  the  Associ- 
ation, carrying  ten  4  pounders  and  30  men,  was  convoying  a 
fleet  of  wood  boats  down  the  Sound,  they  were  attacked  off 
Tinnicock  by  2  gun  boats  and  11  whale  boats,  manned  with  200 
men,  the  largest  boat  having  a  brass  6  pounder  in  her  bow. 
Capt.  T.  hid  his  men,  housed  his  guns,  and  thus  decoyed  the 
boats  within  musket  shot,  when  his  men  suddenly  discharged 
their  muskets,  and  canister  shot  from  the  4  pounders.  A  num- 
ber fell,  but  they  did  not  desist  Irom  their  attack,  but  towed  off 
detached  vessels  as  it  was  a  calm.  They  were,  however,  all 
retaken  after  a  combat  of  six  hours.  These  pickaroon  gentr}^ 
greatly  infest  our  coast. 

418.  Oct.  10,  '82,  New  Haven.  Sunday  sen'iiight,  the  ene- 
my evacuated  their  post  at  Lloyd's  Neck,  demolished  their 
works  and  removed  the  stores  and  garrison  to  New- York. 

419.  The  schooner  Peggy,  John  Envidito,  master,  and  her 
cargo  of  broadcloths,  coating,  linen  and  other  goods,  was  taken 
Dec.  21, '82. 

420.  Mar.  29,  '83,  Riv.  All  persons  having  demands  against 
Major  Scheele,  of  the  Hessian  Hanau  Volunteers,  lately  de- 
ceased, will  bring  their  accounts  before  April  5,  to  Vonden 
Helden,  paymaster,  Oys^ter  Bay. 

N.  JANECKE,  Col.  ComhlL 

421.  Aug.  20,  '83,  Biv.  A  party  of  armed  men  attacked 
the  house  of  Capt.  Israel  Youngs,  of  Cold  Spring,  last  Thurs- 
day night,  and  after  using  him  with  great  cruelty,  carried  off 
1100  guineas  and  43  half  Johanneses.  Two  hundred  guineas 
reward  for  thieves  and  cash. 

422.  A  great  variety  of  troops  lay  at  Oyster  Bay  village 
during  the  war.     Dclancy's  corps  was  the  first. 

Fanning's  corps,  in  charge  of  Major  Grant,  lay  here  one 
summer.  They  were  rude  and  ill-behaved.  An  old  bake- 
house, now  Storr's  store,  was  used  as  a  Guard  House.  The 
Btrcets  were  garnished  with  sentry  boxes  to  protect  the  patrol 


OYSTER    BAY.  231 

from  the  weather.  These  paraded  the  streets  after  9  o'clock 
at  night,  when  no  one  was  allowed  to  pass  without  the  coun- 
tersign. One  evening  a  respectable  young  man,  John  Weeks, 
when  challenged  by  the  sentinel,  instead  of  giving  the  counter- 
sign, left  the  road  and  ran  off  across  the  fields.  He  was  seized, 
tried;  and  sentenced  to  be  whipped.  He  was  accordingly  tied 
lip  to  a  locust  tree,  in  front  of  Townsend's,  but  before  he  re- 
ceived the  full  measure  of  his  punishment,  the  cries  of  the 
youth  and  the  frantic  appeals  of  his  mother  and  sister  so 
wrought  on  the  people,  that  by  their  interference  he  was  set  at 
liberty. 

The  Glueen's  Rangers*  were  here  in  the  winter  of  '78  and 
'79,  when  the  Forage  Fleet  was  suddenly  frozen  in  during  the 
Holidays  ;t  but  the  weather  soon  moderated  so  that  peaches 
were  in  blossom  early  in  March. 

Simcoe  had  his  quarters  at  S.  Townsend's.  He  cut  down 
an  orchard  of  excellent  fruit,  and  formed  an  abattis  of  the  trees 
for  his  fort  on  Fort  Hill.  The  colonel  was  of  a  large  frame, 
heavy  built,  and  fine-looking,  but  of  feeble  health. 

*  Lt.  Murray,  of  the  "  Rangers,"  pressed  a  wagon  at  Cedar  Swamp, 
and  then  loaded  it  with  provisions  for  his  table,  stealing  pigs,  geese,  &c. 

t  The  intense  cold  weather  within  these  two  days  has  occasioned  the 
quicksilver  in  the  weather-glass  to  fall  four  degrees  lower  than  for  the 
last  seven  years.  Several  ships  and  many  lives  have  been  lost  by  the 
monstrous  bodies  of  ice  floating  in  our  bay. — New-York  pajjer,  Dec.  28, 
'78. 

423.  The  British  Legion  (Tarlton's)  under  Major  Cochran, 
also  lay  here,  and  at  Jericho,  but  was  not  distinguished  for  good 
conduct. 

The  Hesse  Hanaus,  Col.  Janecke,  lay  here  one  winter, 
and  left  May  28,  1783.  They  were  an  ill-favored  set  of  little 
men  ;  the  gleanings  of  the  German  recruits.  They  ripped 
boards  out  of  the  Episcopal  Church  to  make  berths,  barracks, 
&c.  Others,  following  their  example,  took  away  piece  after 
piece  for  firewood,  till  it  blew  down,  and  was  sold  at  auction  in 
1804. 

There  was  a  noisy  crowd  in  front  of  a  store  where  the 
young  people  had  passed  the  evening  in  conversation,  when 
Stephen  Lobden  came  out  to  see  what  was  the  matter.     The 


232  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

guard  fired  and  killed  him.  Such  an  outrage  excited  the  peo- 
ple, and  petitions  were  circulated  praying  for  redress.  The 
British  Commandant  at  New- York  sent  up  an  officer  to  hear 
complaints.  But  no  one  dared  to  come  forward,  fearing  the 
resentment  of  the  Hessians,  So  nothing  was  done.  During 
the  day  the  officers  w^ere  seen  talking  in  groups  in  great  excite- 
ment, and  at  night  all  the  glass  in  the  windows  of  S.  Wooden, 
one  of  the  petitioners,  was  broken. 

The  3d  Battalion  under  Lieut.  Col.  Hewlett,  lay  here  from 
June  to  August,  after  the  peace.  They  left  one  Sunday  morn- 
ing before  day  to  escape  observation.  The  British  almost  al- 
ways moved  on  a  "  first  day." 

The  soldiers  were  not  billeted,  but  took  an  entire  building 
to  themselves.  They  also  occupied  the  Baptist  Meeting  House 
(since  removed  and  used  as  a  barn)  and  the  New  Light  Meet- 
ing House,  which  was  removed  by  Simcoe  from  the  back  road, 
now  Sampson's  to  Cock's  Lot.  The  Friends'  Meeting  House 
was  used  as  a  Commissary's  Store,  and  had  a  guard  at  the  door 
constantly. 

There  was  a  long  stack  of  hay  north  of  Townsend's.  Capt. 
Wickham,  of  the  Queen's  Rangers,  w^as  Forage  Master. 

424.  On  one  occasion,  the  Hessians  were  reported  to  be 
shooting  among  the  sheep  of  John  Kirk.  Jonathan  Haire 
loaded  his  gun  and  hastened  to  the  field.  Six  sheep  lay  dead. 
He  fired  on  the  Hessians,  when  they  left  their  booty.  The 
bold  fellow  was  taken  before  Col.  Wurmb  to  answer  for  his 
offence.  "  You  are  Mr.  Haire,  I  suppose  ?"  ''  I  am,  please 
your  honor."  '•  Did  you  fire  on  these  men?"  "  I  did.  I  found 
them  killing  and  stealing  my  neighbor's  sheep."  "  I  hope  you 
will  not  do  so  again."  ''  Indeed,  I  will,"  replied  Haire.  After 
a  slight  reprimand,  he  was  allowed  to  depart.* 

*  Jacobus  Monfort,  hearing  a  noise  in  his  cow-yard,  fired  in  the  dark 
and  wounded  a  Hessian  baker  in  the  neck.  He  was  seized  and  carried 
before  an  officer,  who  at  once  dismissed  him,  saying,  "  If  you  had  killed 
him,  I'd  have  given  you  a  guinea." 

425.  The  door  of  Jost  Hegeman,  Cedar  Swamp,  was  forced 
open  by  a  rail.  The  robbers  could  find  no  money,  but  carried 
off  silk  handkerchiefs  and  some  trifiing  articles.     They  dropped 


OVSTEK    BAY.  233 

a  cap  as  they  left  the  house,  by  which  it  was  discovered  that 
they  belonged  to  a  company  of  soldiers  billeted  in  Cedar 
Swamp.  James  H..  a  lad.  escaped  and  alarmed  the  neighbors, 
but  the  darkness  iavored  the  escape  of  the  robbers. 

426.  Amos  Underbill's  house  was  robbed.  Fortunately 
£300  had  been  hid  in  the  clock  bottom ;  and  although  they 
rummaged  the  house,  the  clock  escaped  their  scrutiny.  Squire 
John  Wright  was  not  so  fortunate.  While  the  robbers  passed 
into  the  back  room  the  old  lady  slipped  a  bag  containing  £250 
into  her  lap.  This  was  observed  by  the  robbers,  who  instantly 
relieved  her  of  her  charge  and  left. 

To  stop  these  robberies  guards  were  set  in  Cedar  Swamp, 
Wheatly,  and  elsewhere. 

427.  Silas  Downing's  store,  at  B.  Rushmore's,  Cedar 
Swamp,  was  forcibly  entered  by  five  soldiers  from  Jericho, 
their  faces  painted.  Luckily  he  had  a  few  days  before  taken 
all  his  money  to  New- York  to  buy  goods,  whereby  the  robbers 
were  frustrated  in  this  part  of  their  plan.  They  then  demanded 
I.  Rushmore's  watch.  He  handed  them  a  dumb  watch  of  his 
Bon's,  hanging  near  the  mantel,  which  they  pocketed  without 
discovering  the  trick.  After  gathering  np  some  trifling  articles 
and  about  $10  in  cash  they  went  off. 

428.  On  one  occasion  the  whale  boatmen  found  a  vessel 
aground  at  Cold  Spring.  When  they  could  not  get  her  off, 
they  threatened  to  burn  her,  unless  the  owners  would  ransom 
her,  which  they  readily  did. 

429.  The  whale  boatmen  robbed  the  store  of Youngs, 

at  East  Woods,  hid  the  plunder  in  bushes  near  the  shore,  so 
as  to  remove  it  at  a  more  suitable  time.  Meanwhile  some  per- 
son passing  by  the  thicket  discovered  the  goods  and  suspected 
what  wa»-^oing  on.  The  militia  agreed  to  watch  and  inter- 
cept the  whale  boatmen.  At  sundown  a  boat  was  descried 
Hearing  the  shore.  The  crew  landed.  The  main  body  of  mi- 
litia kept  out  of  sight,  but  some  stragglers  hailed  the  maraud- 
ers, who  took  the  alarm  and  fled. 

430.  Nicholas  Wright's  store  was  robbed ;  Justice  Smith, 
of  Hog  Island,  was  robbed  of  silks,  &c.,  and  Wm.  Ludlam,  a 
tailor,  who  lived  with  him  was  robbed  of  a  great  many  suits  of 


234  AH-MED    OCCLTATIOX. 

clothes  lie  was  making  u}3  tor  his  customers.  Sarah  Wriglit, 
at  Cove  Neck,  was  robbed  among  other  things  of  a  silver  milk 
pot,  which  was  carried  to  Stamford.  Selah  Wood's  store,  at 
East  Woods,  was  also  robbed.  The  house  of  John  Willets, 
Cedar  Swamp,  v/as  broken  open,  his  hands  tied,  and  every 
threat  used — even  his  house  set  on  fire  to  make  him  disclose 
his  money — but  in  vain. 


BRITISH  PROCLAMATIONS  RICLATING  TO    QUEKNS 
COUNTY. 

431.  For  an  encouragement  to  his  Majesty's  liege  subjects  to 
raise  a  plentiful  supply  of  fresh  provisions  and  vegetables,  hay 
and  other  forage,  for  his  Majesty's  service,  all  persons  are  for- 
bid trespassing  or  breaking  down  and  destroying  fences,  or  car- 
rying away  produce  from  the  owners.     March  20,  '77. 

432.  HOWE  orders  magazines  of  Forage  to  be  established 
on  Long  Island,  and  notice  given  to  farmers  who  may  be  able 
to  supply  them  with  hay,  straw,  oats  and  Indian  corn,  at  the 
following  rates,  hay  5s.  per  cwt,  straw  2s,,  oats  and  corn  accord- 
ing to  quality.  And  for  the  better  encouragement  of  such 
persons,  an  allowance  of  Is.  per  mile  for  every  1000  lbs. 
will  be  paid  for  carriage  to  the  magazines  at  Brooklyn  Ferry, 
Great  Neck,  Hempstead  Harbor  or  Oyster  Bay.  Proper  persons 
are  appointed  to  receive  the  same  and  ascertain  the  weight.  On 
presenting  a  certificate  of  the  delivery,  the  forage  will  be  paid 
for  immediately.  All  who  raise  forage  will  be  expected  to  fur- 
nish their  proportion,     June  12,  '77. 

433.  Wanted,  persons  who  understand  the  business  of 
stacking  and  thatching  hay.  Apply  to  the  forage  magazine, 
New- York,     June  3,  '77, 

434.  That  the  inhabitants  of  Long  Island  and  Staten  Island 
maybe  supplied  with  necessaries,  and  at  the  same  time  to  pre- 
vent supplies  being  conveyed  to  the  rebels  through  these  chan- 
nels, Howe  directs  that  no  vessel  shall  at  anyone  time,  without 
permission  from  the  Superintendent,  carry  from  New-York  to 
Long  Island  or  Staten  Island,  more  tiian  one  barrel  of  rum, 
spirits,  sugar,  molasses,  or  four  bushels  of  salt ;  or  more  of  any 

merchandise  than  sulfirient  for  one  family.     fl^^No  foes 


BHllISH    PROCLAMATIO-NS.  235 

to  be  offered.  Penalty,  forfeiture  of  goods  and  vessel  and  im- 
prisonment of  the  master.  Informers  to  have,  one  moiety.* 
July  17,  '77. 

*  Capt.  S.  once  run  200  bushels  of  salt  covered  wi;h  oyster  shells,  to 
Patchogue,  a  great  place  for  running  goods.  It  cost  Gs  a  bushel  and  sold 
for  18s.  It  was  carried  over  land  to  the  Sound,  and  destined  for  S.  Jack- 
son, who  kept  a  commissary's  store  for  the  American  army,  at  Red  Hook. 
—Ed. 

435.  A  quantity  of  straw  Vvanted  immediately  for  His  Ma- 
jesty's use:  it  is  requested  that  farmers  will  thrash  out  their 
grain  directly,  and  dehver  the  straw  without  delay  at  the  differ- 
ent magazines. — Aug.  4  '77. 

436.  By  order  of  Lt.  General  Sir  Henry  Chnton,  K.  B., 
farmers  are  directed  immediately  to  deliver  into  His  Majesty's 
magazines  all  the  straw  they  have  already  thrashed,  and  get 
the  remainder  ready  without  delay.  Due  attention,  it  is 
expected,  will  be  paid  to  this  order,  as  any  further  delay  must 
occasion  disagreeable  methods.     Sept.  1,  '77. 

437.  Persons  in  want  of  salt  to  cure  necessary  provisions 
for  their  family  use  the  ensuing  winter,  must  produce  a  certifi- 
cate of  a  Justice  of  the  Peace*  next  their  place  of  residence, 
that  they  are  proper  persons  to  be  trusted.  Three  bushels  al- 
lowed each  family.     Nov.  15,  '77. 

*  This  being  found  inadequate,  a  certificate  w^as  required  from  the 
commanding  officer  of  the  King's  troops  on  Long  Island,  or  a  field  offi- 
cer of  the  militia  of  the  county.     Seized  salt,  property  of  the  seizer — Ed. 

438.  To  prevent  extortion  by  boatmen,  the  price  of  walnut 
is  fixed  at  £5  per  cord,  and  £4  for  all  other  wood.  Boatmen  who 
desist  bringing  w^ood  at  the  above  prices,  will  be  deprived  of 
their  boats.  The  wood  of  proprietors  refusing  to  sell  to  boat- 
men at  moderate  prices,  will  be  seized  and  confiscated.  Nov. 
7,  '77. 

439.  Whereas  the  farmers  of  Long  Island  are  possessed  of 
great  quantities  of  wheat,  rye,  and  Indian  corn  :  and  it  is  highly 
unreasonable  that  those  who  stand  in  need  of  the  same  should 
be  left  to  the  mercy  of  the  farmer  ;  the  price  of  wheat  is  fixed 
at  12s.  per  bushel  of  58  lbs,  rye  and  corn  at  73. ;  wheat  flour 
35s.  per  cwt.,  rye  20s.,  Indian  corn  17s.  Farmers  are  ordered 
to  make  a  return  to  the  commanding  officer  of  the  militia  of  the 


238  AR.MED    OCCUPATION. 

county  of  the  quantity  they  have,  and  how  much  they  want  for 
family  use.     Dec.  27,  "77. 

440.  Robertson  appoints  John  Thompson.  Esq.,  of  Brook- 
lyn, to  have  wood  cut  and  supplied  the  poor  of  New- York  at 
cost  of  cutting  and  carting:  and  4s.  per  load  to  said  T.  for  his 
trouble.     Dec.  22,  '77. 

441.  Farmers  are  ordered  to  thrash  out  immediately  one 
third  of  their  present  crop  of  wheat  and  rye  ;  and  one  t.hird  by 
February  next :  the  residue  by  May  1.  Whoever  disobeys  will 
be  imprisoned  and  his  crop  confiscated.     Dec.  20,  '77. 

H.  CLINTON,  Z.7e?//.  Gen. 

442.  In  consequence  of  the  large  quantities  of  wood  brought 
into  New-York,  walnut  is  reduced  to  £4  per  cord,  and  55s.  for 
any  other.     Dec.  27,  '77.  ROBERTSON. 

443.  To  prevent  supplies  to  the  enemy,*  all  wet  or  dry  goods 
in  trading  vessels  or  carrying  by  land  on  Long  Island  without 
a  permit.f  are  to  be  seized.  Half  the  proceeds  to  the  seizer. 
June  '78.  D.  JONES,  Commanding  His  Majesty^s 

Forces.^  on  New-  York.  Long  Island.,  and  Staten  Island. 

*  Immense  quantities  of  British  goods  were  run  from  Long  Island 
into  the  American  lines.  Storekeepers  would  allow  themselves  to  be 
robbed  and  then  get  a  permit  for  more  goods,  or  secretly  meet  at  night 
and  trade  with  Connecticut  whale  boats.  Capt.  S.  once  carried  17  hhds. 
of  rum  and  molasses  to  Patchogue,and  received  17  half  joes  for  freight. 
He  was  armed  with  1.3  swivels,  and  had  17  boys  and  men  to  beat  ofTany 
assailant.  This  trade  was  often  winked  at  by  British  underlings,  who 
shared* the  profits.     Rum  sold  for  18s.  per  gallon. — Ed. 

t  I  have  contrary  to  the  former  practice  of  this  office,  received  fees  for 
writing  passes  for  vessels,  and  it  has  given  offence  ;  all  who  have  paid 
shall  have  restitution  made.     June  .3, '78. 

JOHiN  LE  CHEVALIER  ROOME. 

444.  Farmers  are  required  immediately  to  thrash  out  their 
grain,  as  the  straw  is  wanted  for  His  Majesty's  Troops ;  for 
which  they  will  be  paid  at  the  usual  rates,  on  producing  cer- 
tificates of  delivery  from  the  Deputy  Commissary  at  the  differ- 
ent Posts  of  Brooklyn  and  Flushing.  Same  allowance  for 
transportation  as  last  year.     Sept.  10,  '78,  liiv. 

445.  Uj)land  hay  8s.,  salt  hay  4s.,  straw  3s.  per  cwt.  ;  corn 
10s.,  oats  7s.  per  bushel ;  2s.  Gd.  per  ton  for  carting  or  water 


BRITTSH    PROCLA.MATIO.NS.  237 

carriage.  Forage  of  delinquents  taken  and  no  pay.  These 
prices  are  fixed  that  there  may  be  no  excuse  for  delay.  Dec. 
9,  '78. 

446.  Gov.  Tryon  to  Lord  Germaine.  Dec.  16,  '78:  "I  have 
been  obliged  from  the  frequent  duties  the  militia  of  Kings  and 
Clueens  counties  have  been  called  on  to  perform,  to  appoint 
Archibald  Hamilton  aid-de-camp  and  commandant  of  the  Mi- 
litia of  Q,ueens  County,  with  the  pay  of  the  army,  and  Mr.  Long 
as  Adjutant  for  ditto ;  and  Mr.  Depeyster  as  an  assistant,  at 
3s.  per  day,  to  Col.  Axtel  of  Kings  County  Militia,  to  execute 
my  orders,  and  summon  and  regulate  the  MiUtia  in  the  two 
counties."     Brod.  Doc. 

447.  The  Proclamation  of  December  20,  '78,  is  altered  so  as 
to  encourage  an  ample  supply:  wheat  26s.  currency  per  bushel, 
rye  10s.,  corn  10s.,  buckwheat  7s.,  wheat  flour  80s.  per  cwt., 
Indian  meal  28s.,  rye  meal  30s.,  buckwheat  26s.  If  more  is 
demanded;  the  grain  forfeited  ;  one  half  to  the  informer.  The 
Colonels  of  the  Militia  on  Long  Island  will  take  account  of  the 
grain  in  their  districts.     Jan.  22,  '79. 

448.  Permits  granted  to  farmers  and  gardeners  to  cut  rail- 
ing for  their  fences  on  lands  of  persons  not  under  the  protec- 
tion of  government.  Woodcutters,  who  have  broken  down 
fences,  and  done  other  damage  on  cultivated  lands,  will  be  se- 
verely punished.     Fe6.  8, '79.  D.JONES. 

449.  Permits  granted  loyal  s\ibjects  to  enclose  and  cultivate 
for  their  own  benefit,  portions  of  the  cleared  woodlands,  and 
other  uncultivated  land  of  .persons  not  under  protection  of  go- 
vernment, on  Long  Island,  and  to  erect  temporary  habitations 
thereon.  Certificates  of  character  to  be  produced  at  the  Po- 
lice.    Mar.  6,  '79.  D.  JONES,  M.  G.,  Commandant. 

450.  Farmers  who  have  supplied  the  horse  department  of 
the  Royal  Artillery  with  forage  and  grain,  may  present  their 
accounts.     June  19,  '79. 

451.  A  number  of  haymakers  wanted  immediately  for  his 
Majesty's  service,  who  will  receive  the  best  wages.  Apply  to 
the  Forage  Office,  Burling  Slip.     June  26,  '79. 

452.  Small  craft  with  marketing,  &c.,  to  New- York,  must 
have  a  pass  from  the  commanding  officer  on  Long  Island,  or 

11* 


238  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

military  colonel  of  the  county.  All  vessels  departing  after 
dark,  or  before  gun-fire,  are  to  be  seized  by  the  guard-boats. 
July  22,  79. 

453.  To  prevent  gunpowder  getting  into  improper  hands, 
none  is  to  be  sold  at  vendue  without  license  fiom  the  Police, 
nor  be  delivered  to  any  purchaser  till  he  produce  a  certificate 
from  the  Police  that  he  has  made  oath  that  it  is  intended  for 
retailing  to  the  inhabitants.     Nov.  23,  79. 

454.  Persons  having  permits  to  cut  wood  off  certain  lands 
on  Long  Island,  w^ill  bring  what  they  have  cut  to  market. 
The  colonels  of  the  militia  of  the  district  wnll  employ  the 
neighboring  farmers,  and  settle  the  rates  for  carting.  The 
wood  of  those  unwilling  to  cut,  is  to  be  cut  by  others,  who  will 
pay  the  owners  the  customary  price  for  standing  wood.  Nov. 
24,  '79.  II.  CLINTON. 

455.  Dec.  22.  '79.  Woodcutters  will  meet  with  the  best 
encouragement  by  applying  to  Mr.  Betts,  innkeej)er,  Jamaica. 
Proper  persons  will  attend  to  show  the  wood  to  be  cut.  Ac- 
commodations for  persons  employed  in  the  above  business,  pro- 
vided contiguous  to  the  place  of  cutting. 

456.  To  prevent  waste  and  devastation  of  woodland,  all 
persons  are  forbid  to  cut  wood  on  land  not  belonging  to  them, 
without  leave,  or  on  the  estates  of  persons  supposed  to  be  in 
rebellion,  but  to  lay  the  title  and  authority  before  the  govern- 
ment, that  order  and  method  may  be  introduced.     Ap.  1,  'SO. 

ROBERTSON. 

457.  Proprietoi's  of  lands  from  which  firewood  has  been  cut 
by  the  troops  while  in  winter  quarters,  will  send  their  certifi- 
cates to  the  barrack  master  general.     Ap.  10,  '80. 

458.  The  scarcity  of  forage  last  spring,  and  the  denmnds 
of  the  army  having  filled  the  farmer  with  apprehensions,  to  pre- 
vent the  inconveniences  of  foraging  by  small  detachments,  I 
give  this  public  assurance  that  all  who  bring  in  two-thirds  of 
their  first  grass,  may  keep  the  other  third.  Commissaries  will 
attend  to  weighing,  assisted  by  the  civil  and  military  officers  of 
the  county.     Thus  the  upright  will  be  satisfied,  and  the  artful 


BRITISH    PROCLAMATIONS.  239 

detected  in  their  attempts  to  conceal.     Certificates  of  hay  and 
cartage  paid,  on  presentation  at  New- York.     July  1,  '80. 

ROBERTSON. 
459.  The  necessity  of  a  seasonable  and  ample  supply  of 
fuel  for  his  Majesty's  troops,  obliges  me,  however  reluctant,  to 
call  on  the  inhabitants  of  Long  Island  to  furnish  a  proportion 
of  wood  for  the  barrack  yard  in  New- York,  to  guard  against 
the  severities  of  a  long  winter.  Kings  county  is  required  to 
get  1,500  cords,  Queens  4.500,  and  the  west  part  of  Suffolk  (in- 
cluding Huntington,  Islip,  Smithtown,  and  Brook  Haven)  3,000 
cords,  cut  and  corded  by  August  15.  The  civil  and  military 
officers  of  each  county  will  meet,  25th  inst.,  at  Flatbush,  Ja- 
maica, and  Smithtown,  and  assess  on  each  district  its  propor- 
tion. The  officer  of  the  district  will  then  direct  each  farmer  to 
cut  his  part,  regulating  it  b}^  the  woodland  he  owns;  and  on 
notice  given,  he  will  muster  the  teams  of  the  neighborhood  and 
cart  it  to  the  appointed  landing.  The  wood  ready  corded,  is 
then  to  be  surveyed  in.  presence  of  the  barrack  master,  who 
will  give  a  certificate  on  the  spot  to  tlie  owner,  at  the  rate  of 
thirty  shillings  per  cord  for  walnut,  twenty  shillings  for  oak, 
and  four  shillings  per  mile  for  cartage.  The  foregoing  are  not 
adapted  to  the  east  part  of  Suffolk.  The  inhabitants  of  South- 
old,  East  Hampton,  and  South  Hampton,  are  required  to  cut 
in  the  woodland  late  of  Wm.  Smith  and  Wm.  Floyd,  (now  out 
in  rebellion.)  in  the  parts  nearest  the  Mastic  Neck  Landing, 
3,0 JO  cords,  by  September  1.  When  it  is  surveyed  at  the 
waterside,  they  v/ill  receive  ten  shillings  per  cord  for  cutting 
and  carting.     June  16,  '80.  ROBERTSON. 

460.  The  situation  of  Long  Island  rendering  it  necessary 
to  establish  the  means  of  administering  justice,  without  sub- 
jecting the  inhabitants  to  the  interruptions  and  delays  attend- 
ing their  application  in  the  city,  Robertson  appoints  Geo.  Dun- 
can Ludlow,  Master  of  the  Rolls  and  Superintendent  of  Police 
on  Long  Island,  with  powers  on  principles  of  equity  to  hear 
and  determine  controversies  till  civil  government  can  take 
place.  July  15,  '80.  [David  Golden.  Assistant,  James  Greigh- 
ton.  Secretary.  Office  days,  Tuesday  and  Wednesday,  at  the 
house,  now  J.  D.  P.  Ogden's,  Jamaica. — Ed.'] 


240  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

461.  dueens  County   Address  presented  to  Gov.  Robert- 
son,* by- 
Col.  Hamilton.t  Sam'l  Clowes,  Esq.         Capt.  Benj.  Hewlett, 
Major  Kissam,                 Tho's  Smith,  Esq.  Capt.  R.  Betts, 

V.  H.  Peters,  Esq.  John  Hewlett,  Esq.         Capt.  Cha's  Cornell, 

Dan'l  Kissam,  Esq.  .Tos.  French,  Esq.  Capt.  Tho's  Van  Wyck, 

Tho's  Willet,  Esq.  Dr.  Seabury,  Capt.  G.  Rapalje, 

Rich.  Alsop,  Esq.  Capt.  Cha's  Hicks,  Capt.  B.  Hoogland, 

in  behalf  of  the  county : 

"  The  principles  which  inspired  a  large  majority  of  the 
people  of  Glueens  county  to  oppose  the  beginning  and  progress 
of  those  dangerous  measures  that  have  led  this  county  to 
the  most  fatal  convulsions,  do  still  animate  us  to  promote  his 
Majesty's  service  by  our  utmost  exertions  to  accelerate  that 
liappy  day  when  relations,  friends,  and  fellow-citizens  shall  re- 
embrace  each  other,  and  return  to  the  offices,  pleasures  and 
employments  of  peace,  when  we  shall  enjoy  our  ancient  privi- 
leges, participate  in  an  extensive  commerce,  be  exempt  from 
all  taxation  not  imposed  by  ourselves,  and  included  in  one  com- 
prehensive system  of  felicity  with  the  parent  country.  Queens 
County,  Aug.  5,  '80." 

*  Tryon  was  Governor  of  New- York  till  March,  1780,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  Robertson.  Sir  Guy  Carlton  was  the  last  Britis^h  Go- 
vernor of  New-York. — Ed'. 

t  There  were  seventeen  militia  companies  in  Queens  county  under 
Col.  Hamilton. 

462.  The  freeholders  of  Long  Island  will  choose  commis- 
sioners to  lay  out  highways,  and  overseers,  who  will  clear, 
level,  and  amend  them  six  days  in  the  year.  If  neglected,  the 
Police  will  do  it.     Aug.  19,  '80. 

463.  For  the  relief  of  loyal  subjects  driv^en  from  their  pos- 
sessions, the  houses  and  lands  of  rebels  will  be  divided  among 
them;  and  small  lots  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  claimants, 
will  be  assigned  to  destitute  refugee  families.  Those  who  have 
petitioned  for  houses  and  lands  of  persons  in  rebellion,  will  call 
on  Philip  J.  Livingston,  Hell-Gate,  and  receive  answers  to 
their  petitions.     Sept.  18,  '80. 

461.  All  persons  are  forbid  going  on  land  of  others  and 


BRITISH    PROCLAMATIONS.  241 

cutting  wood  growing  thereon,  as  has  been  practised  ;  but  it 
is  hoped  the  owners  Avho  have  wood,  will  cheerfully  exert 
themselves  in  furnishing  seasonable  supplies  for  the  different 
posts,  as  a  generous  price  is  given.     Oct.  9,  '80. 

465.  All  persons  permitted  to  keep  taverns,  shops,  or  act  as 
traders  on  Long  Island,  must  obtain  from  the  Police  there,  a 
recommendation  for  such  quantities  of  goods  as  they  may 
judge  proper  to  allow  such  persons  from  time  to  time  to  bring 
on  Long  Island,  before  they  can  obtain  a  permit.  To  prevent 
the  improper  conveying  of  goods,  wares,  stores,  provisions, 
and  merchandise  from  New- York  city,  all  persons  are  forbid 
carrying  them  out  by  land  or  water  without  permit.  The  in- 
habitants of  Long  Island  will  obtain  at  the  superintendent's 
office  a  permit  for  carrying  to  their- respective  homes  proper 
quantities  of  the  above  articles  for  family  use.     Oct.  28,  '80. 

ROBERTSON. 

466.  All  persons  who  have  petitioned  for  houses  and  lands 
in  Suffolk  county,  belonging  to  persons  in  rebellion,  and  all 
others  not  provided  for  in  a  former  distribution  in  Kings  and 
Q,ueens,  who  are  desirous  of  locations  in  Suffolk,  will  apply  to 
P.  J.  Livingston,  Hell-Gate,  Long  Island.  Refugees  are  noti- 
fied that  the  residue  of  lands  in  Suffolk,  not  w^anted  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  petitioners,  will  be  leased  to  others  by  Dec. 
10.     Nov.  18,  '80.  ROBERTSON. 

467.  All  persons  unprovided  for  in  the  distribution  of  rebel 
property  w^ithin  the  lines,  will  receive  a  final  answer  to  their 
petitions  by  March  1.  Sufficient  lots  of  land  will  be  granted 
refugees,  who  have  not  petitioned,  on  York  Island,  with  per- 
mission to  cut  wood  for  houses  and  fences  on  rebel  lands  in 
Westchester  and  Suffolk  counties.     Feb.  24,  '81. 

468.  Samuel  Clowes  appointed  clerk  of  Queens  county,  in 
place  of  Thomas  Jones,  resigned ;  also  appointed  surrogate. 
Mar.  21,  '81. 

469.  Owners  of  woodland  on  Long  Island,  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  landmgs,  are  enjoined  without  delay  to  cut  and  cart  their 
cord  wood  to  the  waterside,  and  sell  it  at  Flushing,  and  east- 
ward as  far  as  Cow  Neck,  at  £3  per  cord  for  oak,  and  £4  10s. 
for  hickory.     From  Cow  Neck  to  Huntington  Harbor  inclusive. 


242  A  RIMED    OCCUPATION. 

at  45s.  for  oak,  and  70s.  for  hickory.  From  Huntington  to  Se- 
tauket,  35s.  for  oak,  and  45s.  for  hickory.  And  on  south  side 
of  Long  Island,  40s.  for  oak,  and  65s.  for  hickory.  The  teams 
employed  in  carting  this  wood,  will  be  protected  from  other 
public  duty.  This  Avood  shall  be  sold  in  New-York,  to  private 
citizens,  at  £i  per  cord  for  oak,  and  £6  for  hickory. 

The  Police  on  Long  Island  will  enforce  the  above  order, 
and  direct  such  particular  tracts  to  be  cut  as  shall  be  pointed 
out.     Nov.  17,  '81.  ROBERTSON. 

470.  All  boatmen  plying  between  New- York  and  places  on 
the  Sound,  may  renew  their  licenses  by  bringing  a  certificate 
that  they  have  brought  a  freight  of  wood  from  some  place  east 
of  Flushing.     Jan.,  '82. 

47L  Wood!  Wood!  Wood!  The  citizens  and  boatmen 
are  hereby  informed  that  the  inhabitants  on  the  north  side  of 
Long  Island  have  engaged  to  deliver;  four  weeks  from  date, 
1000  cords  of  wood  at  the  landings,  at  Little,  Great,  and  Cow 
Necks,  250  cords  each  week — to  be  paid  for  at  the  landing,  at 
proclamation  prices.  Boats  going  for  said  wood,  will  meet 
with  every  protection. — Aor.  27,  '81,  Gaine. 

472.  For  encouragement  to  farmers  and  gardeners  to  raise 
plentiful  supplies  of  fresh  provisions,  vegetables,  grain  and 
forage :  all  persons  are  forbid  taking  away  or  destroying  their 
cattle,  stock,  or  other  produce,  or  do  damage,  or  break  down 
fences.  All  offences  punished  with  the  utmost  severity.  Com- 
plaints to  be  made  to  the  nearest  commanding  officer.  Ap.  9, 
'82.  CLINTON. 

473.  The  price  of  good  well  cured  English  hay  is  6s.  cur- 
rency per  cwt,  salt  hay  3s.,  good  clean  straw,  2s.  3d.,  with  for- 
mer allowance  for  freight  and  cartage.     June  29,  '82. 

474.  The  reduction  of  horses  and  wagons  belonging  to  the 
quarter  master  general,  will  occasion  a  call  on  the  country  to 
supply  the  magazines,  and  to  assist  in  other  extraordinary 
duty.  A  return  has  been  made  of  those  on  Long  Island,  that 
each  district  may  perform  its  proportion  of  this  service,  and  be 
regularly  paid.  The  captains  of  militia  are  to  furnish  teams 
weekly  in  rotation  from  their  companies.  Certificates  given, 
and  pay  allowed,  at  14s.  per  day  for  a  wagon,  two  horses,  and 


BRITISH    PROCLAMATIONS. 


243 


a  driver.  The  farmers  of  Kings,  Q^ueens,  and  Huntington,  are 
requested  to  bring  in  half  their  fresh  hay  to  the  nearest  maga- 
zine before  the  end  of  August,  at  £6  per  ton,  and  the  usual 
cartage ;  and  they  will  be  protected  in  keeping  the  other  half, 
and  be  considered  as  having  employed  their  teams  for  the  time 
on  public  duty.     Aug.  3,  '82.  ROBERTSON. 

475.  All  persons  within  the  lines,  whose  houses  and  lands 
have  been  withheld  from  them  on  account  of  offences  against 
the  Crown,  and  all  without  the  lines,  who  have  abandoned  es- 
tates within,  are  desired  to  send  their  claims  to  the  officers  of 
Police.  Persons  occupying  such  estates,  will  be  answerable 
for  all  waste  hereafter  committed.     Feb.  18,  '83. 

476.  JRiv.,  Jan.  16,  '83.  The  proprietors  of  houses  and 
lands  lately  evacuated,  will  apply  to  Lieut.  Gov.  Campbell  for 
the  possession  of  those  on  Long  Island. 

O.  DELANCY,  Adj.  Gen. 
ill.  A  Board  was  established,  June  16,  '83,  to  settle  in  a 
summary  way  all  debts  of  £10  and  upwards,  contracted  by 
citizens  of  New-York  and  its  dependencies,  since  Nov.  1,  '76. 

478.  CommandanVs  Office,  Sept.  13,  '83.  If  any  fees  or 
gratuities  have  been  paid  the  clerks,  in  this  office,  for  passes, 
certificates,  &c.,  since  August  20,  they  will  be  returned  on  ap- 
plication, as  it  was  contrary  to  express  orders. 

479.  Prices  in  Public  Market,  Oct.  22,  '83.  Butter,  2s.  6d. 
per  pound;  veal,  lOd.  to  Is.  6d. ;  beef,  6d.  to  Is.;  lamb,  lOd  ; 
mutton,  7d.  to  13d.;  Indian  meal,  16s.  per  cwt. ;  potatoes,  3s.  6d. 
per  bushel;  fowls,  4s.  a  piece;  turkeys,  6s.  for  eight  pounds. 

480.  Maij  9,  '83.  Free  pardon  to  all  non-commissioned  of- 
ficers and  privates,  deserters*  from  the  Hessian  Corps. 

LOSSBERGH,  Commander-in- Chief 

of  the  Auxiliary  Troops  of  Hesse. 
*  Many  Hessians  deserted  and  settled  in  this  country,  and  became 
valuable  citizens. — Ed. 

Sept.  6,  '83.  All  persons  having  claims  on  government  for 
supplies  to  the  British  army  between  April  19,  '75,  and  August 
19,  '83,  are  notified  that  the  Board  for  investigating  them  will 
not  sit  after  Sept.  1.  G.  TOWNSEND,  Pres't. 


244 


ARMED    OCCUPATION. 


LIST  OF  REGIMENTS  THAT  LAY  IN  QUEENS  COUNTY. 

48L  In  April,  1777,  Sir  Wm.  Howe  issued  his  proclama- 
tion for  levying  troops  to  suppress  the  unnatural  rebellion  in 
North  America,  and  atTording  his  Majesty's  faithful  subjects 
an  opportunity  to  co-operate  in  relieving  themselves  from  the 
miseries  attendant  on  anarchy  and  tyranny,  and  restoring  the 
blessings  of  peace  and  order  with  lawful  government.  Every 
non-commissioned  officer*  shall  receive  200  acres  of  land  in  the 
province  where  his  corps  was  raised ;  privates,  50  acres,  and 
serve  two  years,  or  during  the  war. 

*  Most  of  the  officers  were  outlawed  at  the  peace,  and  died  in 
exile. — Ed. 

482.  The  Ministry  had  sent  out  equipments  for  8,000 
Provincials,  but  met  with  poor  success.  Delancy  was  au- 
thorized to  raise  1,500,  but  in  the  spring  of  '77,  he  had  only 
597,  and  in  May,  '78,  only  707.  Howe  complained  that  thou- 
sands fled  to  the  British,  while  but  few  enlisted.  In  May,  '78, 
all  the  provincial  corps  amounted  to  only  3,609,  although  the 
officers  added  from  their  own  purses  to  the  King's  bounty,  (see 
375  ;)  and  as  the  troops  usually  after  their  summer  expeditions 
returned  to  Long  Island  for  winter  quarters,  and  as  many  new 
corps  were  raised  from  the  floods  of  refugees  who  inundated  it, 
we  annex  an  imperfect  list  of  the  Provincial,  Hessian,  and 
British  troops  that  lay  in  Glueens  county  during  the  war. 

483.  Provincial  Forces  of  North  America. 
Oliver    Delancy,*    Cortland  Skinner,!    Montfort    Brown,:{: 
Benedict  Arnold, §  Brigadier  Generals. 

*  Died,  at  Beverly,  England,  Oct.  27,  1785,  aged  68,  Oliver  Delan- 
cy, late  of  New- York,  who  lost  a  large  estate  by  his  loyalty. —  Gent. 
Mag.  [There  were  two  Delancys,  father  and  son  ;  the  latter  was  Ma- 
jor of  17th  Dragoons,  and  succeeded  Maj.  Andre  as  Adjutant,  and  died 
within  a  few  years  with  the  rank  of  Barrack  Master  General  of  the 
British  Empire,  (see  214,368.)— J::^/. 

t  He  was  from  New  Jersey,  (see  243,  251.) 

\  Formerly  Governor  of  New  Providence,  carried  off  by  Com.  Hop- 
kins, and  exchanged  for  Lord  Stirling.     (See  169.) 
§  His  Legion  lay  near  Black  Stump. 


LIST    OF    REGLAIE.NTS.  245 

484.  Delancy's  Battalions. — Isi  Battalion.  CoL,  O. 
Delancy ;  Lieut.  Col.,  John  Harris  Cruger  ;*  Major,  Joseph 
Greene  ;t  Captains.  Jacob  Smith,  Thomas  and  James  French; 
Galbreath,  Roorback,  Kerr  ;  Lieutenant,  T.  Cunningham  :  N. 
Rogers,  Quarter  Alaster;  N.  Smith.  Surgeon  ;  Cha's  Bowden, 
Chaplain.     (See  128,  129,  174,  227  ) 

*  Married  Delancy's  daughter,  and  removed  to  England  at  the  peace, 
t  Married  John  Tovvnsend's  daughter,,  of  Oyster  Bay,  and  removed 

to  Ireland. 

485.  2d  Battalion.  Col.,  George  Brewerton,  (see  245 ;) 
Lieut.  Col.,  Steph.  Delancy ;  Major,  Tho's  Bowden  ;*  Cap-' 
tains,  Geo.  Dunbar,  Tho's  W.  Moore,  Sam'l  Hallet,  Waher 
Campbell,  H.  Hatch,  E.  Potts;  Lieutenants,  A.  McMillan,  B. 
Lister,  Dan'l  Hallet,  B.  P.  Griffiths,  Colin  Campbell,  J.  McCart- 
ney. D.  Cameron;  Ensigns,  T.  Shrieve,  H.  Ferguson,  Geo. 
Brewerton,  Jas.  Delancy;  Chaplain,  M.  Badger;  Surgeon, 
J.  Johnston. 

*  Sailed  for  England,  Nov.  23,  '83.     (See  238  ) 

486.  M  Battalion.  Col,  Gab.  G.  Ludlow;*  Lieut.  Col. 
Richard  Hewlett;!  Major,  Alex.  Menzies  ;X  Captains,  Edward 
Allison,§  Gilbert  Colden  Willet  Cha's  Hewlett,  Elijah  Miles, || 
Tho's  Lister,  Barth'w  Doughty,  Gerardus  Clowes,  Ichabod 
Smith;  LieuVs,  John  Clowes,  Sam'l  Clowes,  Edmund  Evans, 
Henry  Jackson,  Gab.  De  Veber,  Jr.,  Michael  Laffen,  Wm. 
McFarland,  Zach.  Brown;  Ensigns,  Nath.  Barnum,  Wm. 
Montgomery,  Francis  De  Veber,  Tho's  Carpenter,  Noah  Se- 
lick,  Shadrach  Chase;  Chaplain.  Wm.  Walter ;][  Adj.,  Tho's 
Carpenter;  Quarter  Moi^^e;*,  Richard  Floyd;  Surgeon,  Cha's 
Doughty.     (See  206.) 

[The  3d  Battalion,  consisting  of  about  three  hundred  pri- 
vates, lay  in  almost  every  part  of"  (iueens  county,  but  chiefly 
at  Lloyd's  Neck.  There  were  separate  companies  at  Herricks, 
Hempstead,  Oyster  Bay,  Flushing,  and  Jamaica.  They  went 
on  excursions  for  forage,  and  in  pursuit  of  rebels,  to  most  parts 
of  Suffolk  county ;  and  sometimes  they  crossed  the  Sound  on 
plundering  expeditions,  or  to  bring  off  refugees  and  recruits 
from  the  Main.  At  the  peace,  they  had  lands  granted  them  in 
Nova  Scotia,  whither  most  of  them  went. — Ed.'] 


240  ARMED    OCCUI'ATIOX. 

*  Outlawed,  with  other  brother  oflicers,  by  the  Siate  of  New-York, 
"  for  not  only  giving  aid  and  assistance  to  the  enemies  of  their  country, 
but  putting  themselves  in  arms  to  enslave  the  same." — Elected  Mayor  of 
St.  John's,  1785. 

t  Served  in  the  old  French  war,  (see  190.)  Distinguished  for  his 
heroic  defence  of  Setauket,     Died  in  New  Brunswick,  July,  1789. 

t  Died,  February,  '81.  al  Hempstead. 

§  Owned  a  farin  at  Foster's  Meadow. 

II  One  S.  tried  to  raise  a  company  of  recruits,  and  so  get  a  captain's 
commission  ;  but  not  succeeding,  he  transferred  his  eighteen  recruits  to 
Capt.  Miles  for  ten  guineas  a  head. 

IT  Chosen  minister  of  the  Church  of  England  at  Shelburn,  Nova 
Scotia,  in  1785. 

487.  Queen'' s  Rangers* — Cavalry  and  Infantry — uniform^ 
green,  with  white  facings.]  Lieut.  Co/.,  J.  Graves  Symcoe;J 
Major.  R.  Armstrong. 

*  Capt.  Diemar's  Independent  Company  of  Hussars,  and  Capt.  San- 
ford's  Bucks  County  Volunteers,  (dressed  in  red,)  were  joined  to  the 
Rangers  Capt.  D.,  with  his  wife,  was  quartered  at  Rem  (since  Jos.) 
Hegeman's.  His  Hussars  lay  in  tents  under  the  hill  in  front  of  the 
house. 

t  They  wore  green  coatees  and  leather  breeches.  This  regiment, 
320  in  number,  was  taken  at  Yorktown,  and  settled  in  Nova  Scotia  at 
the  peace. 

t  Afterwards  (Governor  of  Canada,  and  printed  a  journal  of  his  mili- 
tary services.     (See  18G,  205,  258.) 

48S.  Volunteers  of  Ireland.'*  Col.,  Lord  Rawdon ;  Lieut. 
Col.,  Doyle ;  Majors,  Despard.  and  Joseph  Campbell. 

*  Southern  recruits — '400  strapping  fellows,  neither  influenced  by 
Yankees  or  agues" — settled  at  Rawdon,  Nova  Scotia,  in  178-1,  (see  249.) 

489.  New- York  Volunteers.*  Lieut.  Col.  ComH,  George 
Turnbull ;  Majors,  CofTinf  and  Sheridan  ;  Captains,  John  Alt- 
house,!  Fred.  Depeyster.  Tlio's  Hewlett, §  Kane.  Collin.  Gray, 
Johnstone,  McLean 

*  Lay  at  Foster'.s  Meadow  ;ifier  ihe  evacuation  of  Chirkston,  Dec. 
14,  '82,  till  the  peace.  Lay  at  Jerusalem  also.  Fir.st  to  et.ter  Foit 
Montgomery,  Oct.  6,  '77. 

t  Coffin  having  repeatedly  b-en  puhlicly  thanked  1  y  the  officers  under 


LIST    OF    REGLMENTS.  247 

him,  ami  having  distinguished  himself,  Sept.  8,'Bl,  was  appointed  Major 
'f  the  King's  American  Regiment,  vacant  by  the  death  of  Major  Grant. 

X  Married  Miss  Jackson,  of  Jerusalem.  His  son  JoI)n,  an  ensign,  is 
:i>)w  living. 

^  Killed  at  Hanging  Rock,  Sept.  20,  '80. 

490.  British  Legion. —  Cavalry.*  Col..  Lord  Cathcart; 
Lieut.  CuL,  Banastre  Tarlton ;  Majors,  Geo.  Hanger  and 
rochran. 

*  ?trosi!y  c'ad  in  white  at  Yorktown.  At  Jericho,  Nov.  '78  ;  at  Sag 
Harbor,  Feb.,  '79  ;  at  Springfield,  April,  '82.     (See  267.) 

491.  King^s  American  Regiment.'*  Co/.,  Edmund  Fanning,! 
Lieut.  Col's.,  Ed.  Winslow  and  Geo.  Campbell ;  Majors,  Ja's 
Grant  and  Coffin ;  Captains,  Abm.  Depeyster,  T.  Cornwall.  J. 
AtAvood.  J.  W.  Living.ston,  T.  Chapman.  R.  Gray,  P.  Clements  ; 
Chaplain,  Sam'l  Seabury.J 

*  "June  8,  '77.  Fanning's  Corps  is  nearly  complete."  For  raising 
this  corps  of  460  men,  jCoOO  was  subscribed  by  Staten  Island,  i^SlO  8s. 
by  Kings  county,  jC219  by  Jamaica,  and  £2000  by  New- York  city. 

t  Son-in-law  and  secretary  of  Gov.  Tryon.  Lieut.  Gov  of  Nova 
Scotia,  May, '83. 

+  St.  Peter's  exhortation  to  fear  God  and  honor  the  King  :  a  ser- 
mon preached  before  his  Majesty's  Provincial  Troops  by  Sam'l  Seabury, 
Sept.  28,  '77,  published  by  order  of  Gov.  Tryon. 

492.  Prince  of  Wales^s  American  Volunteers.*  Col.,  Mont- 
fort  Brown ;  Lieut.  CoPs.,  Tho's  Pattinsonf  and  De  Veber ; 
Major,  Garden.:]: 

*  (See  170.)  Reduced  from  278  to  9,  at  Hanging  Rock,  S.C,  July. '80. 
t  At  Lloyd's  Neck.    (See  38.3  ) 

t  Died  at  Charleston  before  Dec, '82. 

493.  Loyal  American  Regiment.  Col.,  Beverly  Robinson  ;* 
Lieut.  Col.,  Bev^erly  Robinson.  Jr. ;  Major,  Tho's  Barclay. f 

*  (See  173.) 

X  Son  of  Rev.  H  Barclay,  quartered  at  \Vm.  Leverich's  and  Richard 
Berrian's,  Newtown.     Had  an  estate  at  Hell-Gate. 

494.  King^s  American  Dragoons. — (See  203.)  Lieut.  Col., 
Benj.  Thomp.son  ;  Majors,  D.  Murray  and  Upham. 


248  ARMED    OCCUrATION. 

495.  Loyal  Forresters.     Lieut.  Col..  Conolly,  (see  152.) 

496.  Royal  Garrison  Battalion.  Lieut.  Co/.,  Donkin,  (see 
149;)  il/q/or,  Anstruther. 

497.  Maryland  Loyalists.*  Lieut.  Col.,  Chalmers  ;  Major, 
Dulaney. 

*  Lieut.  Townsend  and  Adj.  Henley  were  quartered  at  Wm.  Levp- 
rich's,  (now  Sackett's,")   Train's  Meadow.    (See  178  ) 

498.  Beside  the  preceding,  there  were  the  Florida  Rangers, 
North  Carolina  Volunteers,  (see  366.)  WenticortJi's  Volunteers, 
or  New  Hampshire  Regiment,  (see  344,  353,)  Volunteers  of 
New  England,*  Associated  Hefugees.'f  and  Loyal  Refugees.^  In 
fine,  refugees  from  all  the  colonies  poured  into  Long  Island, 
and  were  located  on  the  farms  of  those  Whigs  who  had  fled  the 
county,  or  sought  a  livelihood  as  laborers,  woodcutters,  me- 
chanics, traders,  and  hpatmen,  or  as  recruits  in  the  new  raised 
corps. 

*  At  Lloyd's  Neck. — Carried  off  the  congregation  at  Middlesex. 
(See  412.) 

t  Lieut.  Col.  Winslow,  at  Lloyd's  Neck,  March,  '79.    (See  180.) 
I  Col  Abm.  C.  Cuyler.     (See  248.) 

499.  Hessian  Regiments — Jager  Corps,  mounted  and.  dis- 
mounted ;  uniform  green,  faced  with  crimson.*  Lt.Col.ComH, 
Lewis  de  Wurmb  ;t  Lieut.  Col.,  Preuschenck  ;+  Major,  Philip 
de  Wurmb;  Captains,  Baron  Ewald,§  Donop,l|  Wangenheim, 
Hanger,  Romrod,  Heinricks  ;^  \st  Lieuts.,  Hagen,  KcUerhaus, 
Wolf,**  Winzingcroda.tt  Schoeffer;  2d  Lieuts.,  Bickell.tt  Cor- 
nelius, Flies.  Boheln,  Besger,  Gerresheim,  Ocksie ;  Judge  Ad- 
vocate, Wiscker.§§ 

*  O  T.  says,  "  The  Jagers,a  higher  order  of  Hessians,  lay  at  North 
Side  in  the  cold  winter — drawn  close  together  for  fear  of  being  cut  off  by 
the  Americans,  and  suffered  much  from  the  cold.  The  officers  often  met 
together,  had  dinners,  suppers,  cards,  &,c.,  which  often  ended  in  a  auarrel 
that  was  settled  by  the  sword  next  day  in  the  back  fields. 

t  Quartered  at  Judge  Valentine's,  at  W.  Titus's,  Wheaily,  and  at 
other  places,  (see  317,  319)  After  the  war,  Wm.  Savery,  a  travelling 
minister,  met  Col.  W.in  Germany,  who  expressed  himself  pleased  with 
the  treatment  he  received  while  among  Friends  in  Queens  county. 

t  Quartered  at  .Tackson's,  Jericho,  and  at  D.  Laton's,  Wheatly. 


LIST    OF    REGIMENTS.  249 

§  Quartered  at  Hend'k  O.'s.  Published  a  military  work  on  his  re- 
turn to  Gennany. 

II  Quartered  at  John  Simonson's. 

IT  Quartered  at  Dr.  Tred well's. 
**  Quartered  at  T.  Townsend's. 
tt  Quartered  at  Timothy  Smith's. 
U  Quartered  at  D.  Mudge's. 
§§  Quartered  at  Ryerson's  Inn,  Black  Stump. 

500.  Free  Battalion  of  Hesse  Hanau — raised  Jan.  '81. 
Lieut.  Col..  N.  Von  Janecke  ;*  Major,  Scheele  ;t  Captains, 
Franck.J  Spangenbergh.  Leiningen,  Schelm,  Westerhagen;§ 
1st  Lieuts.,  Kaerner,  Koch,  Eitehvein.  Zipf;  2d  Lieuts., 
Haelcken,  Schaeffer,  Goerduck,  Condrade.  Stockel,  Goener. 

*  Quartered  at  Judge  Mitchell's,  (see  336,431,433  ) 

t  Died  at  Oyster  Bay,  March,  '83. 

X  Quartered  at  D.  Kissam's,  Cow  Neck. 

§  Quartered  at  Peter  Onderdonk's. 

501.  Regiment  de  Knoblauch — uniform  blue,  white  facings. 
Col.,  Be  Porbeckj*  3/a/or.9,  D'Ende  and  Goeble ;  Captains, 
Boedicker.f  Hegeman.t  Hoenstein,  Huepeden,  Dalwigk ;  1st 
Lieuts.,  Waldeck.§  Knoblauch.  Goebeli,  Schenck.  Koeber ;  2d 
Lieuts.,  Apell,  Gessner.  Justi.  Dick.  Peternell.  Stuckradt,  Cor- 
(leman. 

Their  dress  varied,  but  is  thus  described  by  Dunlap:  "  The  Hessian 
had  a  towering  brass-fronted  cap,  [some  had  three-cornered  hats,]  mus- 
tachios  colored  with  the  same  material  that  colored  his  shoes,  [which 
were  square-toed,  turned  up,  and  had  large  buckles,]  his  hair  plastered 
v.iih  tallow  and  flour,  and  lightly  drawn  into  a  long  ^ueue,  reaching  to  his 
waist ;  a  blue  uniform,  almost  covered  by  the  broad  belts  that  sus- 
tained his  cartouchbox,  his  brass-hdted  sword,  and  his  bayonet;  a  yellow 
waistcoat  with  flaps,  and  yellow  breeches  met  at  the  knee  by  black  gaiters. 
Tlius  heavily  equipped,  he  stood  an  automaton  to  receive  the  command 
or  cane  of  the  officer  who  inspected  him." 

*  Quartered  at  Judge  Valentine's,  (see  161,328.) 

t  Quartered  at  Martin  Schenck's. 

X  Quartered  at  Judge  Schenck's. 

§  Quartered  at  Timothy  Smith's.  'Tis  said  the  Hessians  lay  three 
winters  at  North  Side. 

502.  3d  Battalion  of  Hessian  Grenadiers.  (See  195.)    CoL, 


250  ARMED    OCCUPATIOIV. 

De  Schreiber;   Lieut.  Cols.,  De  Lengerke  and  Loewenstein ; 
AJajors,  Kutzleben  and  Wilmousky. 

503.  Denning^s  Corps.  Cols.,  Benning*  and  Kurtz ;  Lieut. 
Cols.,  Hildebrand  and  Martini. 

*  Quartered  at  Wm.  Lines's,  (now  John  Hicks's ;)  came  to  North 
Side  after  the  evacuation  of  Charleston,  Dec.  14,  '82  ;  when  the  Jagers 
gave  place  to  them,  and  went  to  Huntington. 

504.  Regiment  du  Corps.*  Lieut.  Col.,  Linsing;  Majors, 
Stamford  and  Dincklage. 

*  Grenadiers.     Uniform,  blue  faced  with  yellow.     (See  149,254.) 

505.  British  Regulars. — llth  Regiment  Light  Dragoons. 
Col.,  Geo.  Preston  ;*  Lieut.  Col.,  Sam'l  Birch  ;t  Major,  Oliver 
Delancy,  Jr. ;  Captains,  R.  Archdale,  S.  Baggot,  J.  S.  Brad- 
shaw,  J.  Stapleton ;  Capt.  Lieut.,  H.  Nettles ;  Cornet,  Seari ; 
Chaplain,  J.  Beever.     (See  286.) 

*  Uniform  red,  white  facings.  (See  133.)  Remount  horses  arrived 
from  England,  May, '77 — made  up  of  the  I6ih  and  17th.  The  former 
had  312  men  and  265  horses;  the  latter  had  396  men  and  337  horses — 
engaged  at  White  Plains  and  Monmouth.  When  in  New-York,  they 
used  the  Middle  Putch  church  as  a  riding-school,  to  traiu  their  horses. 

t  Commanding  officer  at  Hempstead,  Mny,  '60. 

506.  llth  Regiment  of  Foot.  Col,  Moncton;  Lieut. Col., 
Johnson;  Major,  Armstrong,  (see  176.) 

507.  23d  Regiment,  or  Royal  Welsh  Fusileers.*  Col.,  Sir 
William  Howe,  K.B. ;  Lieut.  Col.,  Balfour  3  Major,  Mackeneie. 

*  See  325. 

508.  33d  Regiment.  (See  139,  oiote.)  Col.,  Earl  Corn- 
wallis ;  Lieut.  Col.,  Yorke ;  Major,  Dansey. 

509.  37^/1  Regiment,*  Grenadiers.  Col.,  Coote,  K.B. ;  Lieut. 
Col.,  Abercrombic  ;  Major,  Graham. 

»  See  144. 

510.  S8th  Regiment* — uniform,  red  faced  with  yellow.  Col., 
Sir  Robert  Pigotjf  Lieut.  Col.,  Henry  Edward  Fox  ;|  Major, 
French. 

*  Lay  at  Duryea's,  Fresh  Meadows,  six  weeks  in  the  summer  of  '83. 
(See  183,201,207.) 

t  See  292.     t  See  203. 


LIST    OF    REGIMENTS.  251 

511.  42d,  or  Royal  Highland  Regiment*  Col.,  Lord  John 
Murray ;  Lieut.  Col.,  Tho's  Sterling ;  Major,  Cha's  Graham. 

*  Uniform,  red  faced  with  blue  ;  also  belted  plaid  and  hose.  The 
Highlanders  changed  their  national  dress  for  one  better  adapted  to  our 
cold  climate.     (See  135,  136,  139,  150.) 

512.  oiih  Regiment  of  Foot.-*  Col,  M.  Frederick ;  Lieut. 
Col.,  A.  Bruce  ;t  Majors,  A.  Foster  and  John  Breese.t 

*  Uniform,  red  faced  with  popinjay  green.  Lay  at  Sprong's,  Fresh 
Meadow. 

f  See  200,201. 
I  See  354,  note. 

513.  60th,  or  Royal  American  Regiment"^ — uniform  red,  blue 
facing.  Col.  ComH,  John  Dalling ;  Lieut.  Col.,  Archibald 
MacArthur  ;  Major,  Geo.  Thompson. 

*  Lay  about  Hempstead  just  before  the  peace,  and  marched  out  to 
the  tune  of  Roslyn  Castle. 

514.  Mth  Regiment,*  Grenadiers — uniform,  red  faced  with 
black.  Col.,  Pomcroy ;  Lieut.  Col.,  Ed.  Eyre  ;  Major,  Bre- 
reton. 

»See  177,  210,260. 

515.  list  Regiment,  or  Highland  Foot.*  Col.,  Simon  Fra- 
zer ;  Lieut.  Col.,  Archibald  Campbell. 

*  Clothed  in  red,  white  facings,  in  winter ;  in  kilts  and  bonnets  in 
summer.  'Tis  said  a  Major  Baird,  of  71st,  cruelly  wounded  Gen.  Wood- 
hull— doubtful —EJ. 

516.  lUh  Regiment  Highland  Foot,*  Grenadiers.  Lieut. 
Col,  ComH,  J.  Campbell;  Majors,  Alex.  Campbellf  and  Rob't 
Montresor. 

*  Uniform,  red  faced  with  yellow.  Child  baptized  at  Jamaica,  April, 
'82.     (See  269.) 

t  See  220. 

517.  SOth  Regiment,*  or  Royal  Edinboro'^  Volunteers.  Col, 
Sir  William  Erskine  ;  Lieut.  Col.,  Tho's  Dundas  ;  Majors,  Ja'a 
Gordon  and  Wm.  Maxwell ;  Captain,  David  Kinlock.f 

*  Baptism  at  .Jamaica,  Nov.,  '80.     (See  183.) 
t  See  231. 


252  ARMED    OCCUPATION. 

518.  82d  Regiment.  Cols..  Gunning  and  F.  McLean  ;*  Lieut. 
CoL,  Craig ;  Major,  Robertson. 

*  See  181. 

519.  Sith  Regiment,  or  Royal  Highland  Emigrants.  Col., 
Sir  H.  Clinton,  K.  B. ;  Lieut.  Col.,  John  Small ;  *Majors,  Alex. 
Macdonald  and  Tho's  Murray. 

*  See  203|. 

The  preceding  list  includes  only  such  Regiments  as  have  been  noticed 
in  the  course  of  this  work. 

The  British  officers  expected  the  utmost  condescension.  If  a  farmer, 
in  passing,  should  neglect  to  take  off  his  hat,  he  might  depend  on  a 
caning;  though  the  Briton  would  scarcely  deign  to  notice  him,  much  less 
return  the  civility.  In  addressing  an  officer,  your  hat  should  be  under 
your  arm. 

The  quartering  of  officers  and  billeting  of  soldiers  in  private  houses, 
was  a  great  annoyance.  An  officer  was  entitled  to  one  or  more  of  the 
best  rooms,  and  had  a  guard  constantly  parading  to  and  fro  before  the 
door.  The  soldiers  generally  took  the  kitchen.  The  first  notice  you  had 
that  your  house  would  be  wanted,  was,  "  Well,  madam,  I've  come  to  take 
a  billet  on  your  house."  Insubordination  arose  among  the  slaves,  who 
either  ran  away,  or  became  less  respectful  to  their  owners,  when  tliey  saw 
them  lorded  over  by  British  officers. 

Between  the  oppressions  of  British  soldiers,  and  the  depredations  of 
American  whale  boats,*  the  inhabitants  suffered  sadly,  and  all  hailed  the 
period  of  their  deliverance  from  both. 

*  The  whale  boatmen  were  Americans  (many  of  them  refugees  from 
Long  Island)  living  on  the  Connecticut  shore,  who  had  commissions  from 
the  (rovernors  of  New- York  and  Connecticut  to  cruise  in  the  Sound 
against  British  vessels;  and  it  required  no  great  stretch  of  conscience  to 
go  on  land  and  plunder  indiscriminately.  Whig  and  Loyalist,  (see  388,) 
under  pretence  of  carrying  ofl'  British  goods.  Tiie  whale  boat  warfare 
at  length  degenerated  into  downright  robbery.  The  whale  boats  were 
sharp  at  each  end,  the  sheathing  often  not  over  half  an  inch  thick,  and 
so  light  as  to  be  easily  carried  on  men's  shoulders,  eiliier  to  be  hid  in  the 
bushes  or  re-launched  in  the  South  Bay.  Some  were  thirty-two  feet 
long,  and  impelled  by  from  eight  to  twenty  oars,  and  would  shoot  ahead 
of  an  ordinary  boat  with  great  velocity,  and  leave  their  pursuers  far  be- 
hind. They  were  always  on  the  look-out,  and  in  a  calm  would  row  out 
of  their  lurking  places,  and  board  market  boats,  or  even  cut  olf  the  de- 
tached vessels  of  a  convoy. 

Another  more  h()noral)le  employment  of  whale  boats  was  to  carry  off 
distinguished  Loyalists,  so  as  to  exchange  them  for  Whig  prisoners.  '  (See 
3U4,  305,  314,  33G,374,  395,397,31)8,402.) 


PART  V. 

CONCLUSJON. 

EVACUATION  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 

520.  Sir  Guy  Carlton,  Governor  of  New- York,  says :  "  I  pro- 
pose to  resign  the  possession  of  Herricks  and  Hempstead,  and  all 
to  the  eastward,  on  Long  Island,  Nov.  21.^^— Sparks,  VIII.  547. 
After  evacuating  New- York  (Nov.  25),  he  yet  retained  posses- 
sion of  Staten  Island,  Dennis's,  New  Utrecht,  and  the  circumja- 
cent district  on  Long  Island,  for  the  use  of  troops  unprovided  with 
transports,  till  Dec.  4,  when  they  embarked  and  took  their  final 
departure  from  our  unhappy  isle.  This  long  delay  was  owing 
to  the  removal  of  so  many  loyalists,  who  dared  not  remain  here 
after  the  passage  of  so  many  violent  resolutions  by  whig  meet- 
ings in  various  parts  of  the  Union.  Ships  were  sent  for  from 
the  West  Indies,  and  even  from  Europe. 

521.  We  have  scarcely  any  particulars  of  the  evacuation  of 
€lueens  county,  except  that  the  Hessians  from  the  Fly  marched 
through  Newtown ;  the  road  was  full  for  some  time. — Delancy's 
3d  Battalion  was  marched  towards  New-York,  and  discharged, 
a  few  at  a  time,  to  prevent  their  clubbing  together  and  doing 
mischief  A  half  guinea  was  given  each  soldier  to  drink  the 
King's  health. — At  the  peace,  the  British,  in  Newtown,  gradu- 
ally drew  off  toward  Bushwick.  Their  last  encampment  was 
in  the  Cedar  Lots,  on  the  road  to  the  Penny  Bridge. — On 
the  evacuation  of  Flushing,  in  the  morning  there  were  thou- 
sands around,  barns  full ;  in  the  afternoon  all,  all  were  gone, 
and  it  seemed  quite  lonesome. — J.  F.,  who  kept  store  in  Jamaica, 
says,  "  One  day  the  British  patrolled  the  streets,  next  day  the 

12 


254  CONCLUSION. 

American  soldiers. — The  60th  Regiment  left  Hempstead  to  the 
tune  of  Roslin  Castle.     (See  513,  367.) 


NOVA  SCOTIA. 

522.  As  a  number  of  the  most  active  Loyalists  of  Queens 
county,  and  of  the  Provincial  Regiments  raised  here,  was 
obliged  to  seek  refuge  in  Nova  Scotia  at  the  peace,  to  escape 
the  vengeance  of  the  exasperated  Whigs,  we  annex  such  notices 
of  their  emigration  thither  as  have  fallen  under  our  observa- 
tion.— Ed. 

At  the  fall  of  Cornwallis,  (Oct.  19,  '81,)  471  heads  of  fami- 
lies associated  to  settle  on  lands  granted  the  Loyalists  in  Nova 
Scotia.*  They  were  divided  into  sixteen  companies,  w^ith  a 
captain  and  two  lieutenants  to  each,  to  keep  order  and  regularity, 
and  had  forty  pieces  of  cannon,  ammunition  and  military  stores, 
carpenters,  and  all  kinds  of  tools  and  implements  for  a  settle- 
ment on  a  large  scale.  April  27,  '83,  6000  sailed  in  a  fleet  of  eigh- 
teen square-rigged  vessels,  with  several  sloops  and  schooners  to 
carry  horses,  protected  by  two  men-of-war.  They  reached  Port 
Roseway  after  a  six  days'  passage,  and  chose  a  site  for  a  town 
afterwards  named  Shclburn.  They  commenced  operations 
with  great  regularity  and  energy.  Hills  were  levelled,  hollows 
filled  up,  trees  eradicated,  and  towns  laid  out.  For  present  ac- 
commodation, temporary  huts  and  tents  were  erected.  They 
had  excellent  fish  and  lobster  from  the  Roseway.f  But  late 
in  autumn,  an  unwelcome  addition  was  made:  an  inundation 
of  reiugecs  of  an  opposite  character  to  the  first  settlers,  was 
poured  in  from  the  colonics.  These  they  felt  obliged  to  admit 
in  their  communion.  The  population  arose  to  10,000,  some 
say  14,000 ;  but  behig  remote  from  other  settlements,  and  no 
roads,  and  the  people  unused  to  the  mode  of  settling  a  wilder- 
ness, it  rapidly  declined  ;  a  greatpart  of  the  Loyalists  returned 
to  their  native  land,  and  thus  raised  a  great  prejudice  against 
Nova  Scotia. — Haliburton,  II.  192. 

Sept.  29,  '83,  Gainc.  The  fleet  for  Nova  Scotia,  of  thirty 
sail,  put  to  sea  yesterday.    (See  288,  366.) 

**  The  feelings  of  the  Loyalists  within  the  British  lines,  may  be  judged 


NOVA    SCOTIA.  255 

of  from  the  following  address  to  Sir  Guy  Carlton  and  Admiral  Digby,  at 
New- York,  Aug.  10,  '82  : 

"  It  is  impossible  for  us  to  express  the  consternation  with  which  we 
are  struck,  even  on  the  probability  of  so  calamitous  an  event  as  the  in- 
dependency of  the  thirteen  provinces  of  America  taking  place.  We 
cannot  suppress  our  feelings  on  a  point  so  e  ceedingly  momentous  to  our 
future  peace,  safety  and  happiness. 

"  To  preserve  the  British  Dominions  entire,  and  to  evince  our  pure 
and  disinterested  affection  for  his  Majesty's  sacred  person  and  govern- 
ment, we  hesitated  not  to  step  forth  and  hazard  our  lives  and  fortunes,  re- 
lying on  assurances  given  us  that  we  should  never  be  deserted  in  a  cause 
so  just,  and  in  distresses  so  great  and  overwhelming. 

"  But  should  the  great  event  of  the  independency  of  the  British  colo- 
nies be  determined,  and  we  thereby  have  to  encounter  the  most  inexpres- 
sible misforlune  of  being  for  ever  cast  out  from  his  Majesty's  protection 
and  government:  we  have  only  then  to  entreat  your  Excellencies'  inter- 
position with  his  Majesty,  by  every  consideration  of  humanity,  to  secure, 
if  possible,  beyond  the  mere  forms  of  treaty,  our  persons  and  properties  ; 
that  such  as  think  they  cannot  safely  remain  here,  may  be  enabled  to  seek 
refuge  elsewhere. — Roh.  Amer.  Gaz.,  Dec.  17,  '82. 

t  Town  lots  at  Port  Roseway,  sixty  by  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet, 
sold  for  from  ten  to  tv/o  hundred  and  fifty  guineas  each. 

523.  Most  of  the  provincial  regiments  Jiad  lands  assigned 
them  in  Nova  Scotia,  New  Brunswick,  Canada,  (fcc. — Govern- 
ment granted  three  thousand  acres  of  land  to  a  field  officer, 
and  to  others  in  proportion,  who  served  in  the  provincial  corps. 
It  was  supposed  the  Loyalists  would  erect  saw-mills  (in  fact 
thirty-five  were  built  since  '83),  and  ship  lumber  and  fish  to  the 
West  Indies. — A  grant  of  one  hundred  and  eight  thousand  acres 
in  the  town  of  Douglass,  was  made,  1784,  to  Lieut.  Col.  Small, 
for  the  location  of  the  2nd  battalion  of  the  84th  regiment,  who 
were  Americans  enlisted  while  stationed  on  Long  Island. — The 
British  Legion  (Tarlton's)  settled,  1783,  at  Port  Mauton,  and 
built  while  snow  was  yet  on  the  ground.  They  were  forced  to 
remove,  from  the  barrenness  of  the  soil.  Their  town,  with  all 
their  effects,  clothing,  live  stock  and  furniture,  was  consumed 
by  fire.  They  would  have  died  of  famine,  had  not  a  King's 
ship  been  sent  to  their  relief     (See  490,  519.) 

524.  Those  who  were  once  settled  in  their  new  homes, 


256  CONCLUSION. 

anxious  ibr  more  company,  wrote  home   very  flattering   ac- 
counts,— Ed. 

'•'  St.  John's  Island,  May  10,  '83.  The  soil  here  is  good, 
well  wooded,  and  free  from  rocks.  Climate  so  good,  that  fevers 
and  agues  are  unknown ;  water  excellent ;  harbors  spacious ; 
the  rivers  and  bays  abound  in  a  great  variety  of  shell  and  other 
fish." 

A  letter  from  Nova  Scotia,  August  30,  '83,  says  :  "Horses, 
hogs,  cows,  sheep,  and  poultry,  are  cheaper  here  than  on 
Long  Island.     Bring  all  building  materials  with  you." 

525.  After  a  while,  accounts  from  Nova  Scotia  became 
more  discouraging,  and  we  find  the  Loyalists,  except  those  who 
had  been  in  arms,  gradually  returning  home,  where  they  lived 
unmolested  by  the  Whigs. — Ed. 

"  Port  JRoseicay,  Jan.  5,  '84.  All  our  golden  promises  are 
vanished  in  smoke.  We  were  taught  to  believe  this  place  was 
not  barren  and  foggy,  as  had  been  represented,  but  we  find  it 
ten  times  worse.  We  have  nothing  but  his  Majesty's  rotten 
pork  and  unbaked  flour  to  subsist  on.  '  But  can't  you  bake 
it,  seeing  it  is  so  wooden  a  country?'  Only  come  here  your- 
self, and  you'll  soon  learn  the  reason.  It  is  the  most  inhospi- 
table clime  that  ever  mortal  set  foot  on.  Loosely  keeps  hotel 
here." 

Dec.  22,  '84,  N.  J.  Gaz.  We  felicitate  our  countrymen  on 
the  arrival  of  seventeen  famihes  from  Nova  Scotia,  14th  inst. 
Many  more  may  be  daily  expected,  as  the  pacific  disposition  of 
the  Whigs  entirely  coincides  with  their  sentiments. — Mar.  24, 
'85.  Thirty  Tories  have  returned  from  Nova  Scotia  to  New- 
York. —  Oct.  12,  '85.  New  Jersey  swarms  with  Tories  returned 
from  Nova  Scotia. 


CELEBRATION  OF  PEACE. 

526.  Dec.  13,  '83,  IndepH  Gaz.  On  Monday  last,  the  glo- 
rious event  of  peace  was  celebrated  by  the  Whig  inhabitants 
of  Q,ueens  county,  at  Jamaica.  At  sunrise,  a  volley  was  fired 
by  the  continental  troops  stationed  in  town,  and  the  thirteen 
stripes  displayed  on  a  liberty  pole,  which  had  been  erected  for 
the  purpose.     At  four  o'clock,  a  number  of  the  gentlemen  of 


SUITS    AGAIxXST    LOYALISTS.  257 

the  county,  and  officers  of  the  army  who  were  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, sat  down  to  an  elegant  dinner,  attended  by  the  music 
of  a  most  excellent  band,  formerly  belonging  to  the  Line  of  this 
State.  After  drinking  thirteen  toasts,  the  gentlemen  marched 
in  column,  thirteen  abreast,  in  procession  through  the  village, 
preceded  by  the  mysic,  and  saluting  the  colors  as  they  passed. 
In  the  evening,  every  house  in  the  village,  and  several  miles 
around,  was  most  brilliantly  illuminated,  and  a  ball  given  to 
the  ladies  concluded  the  whole.  It  was  pleasing  to  view  the 
different  expressions  of  joy  and  gratitude  apparent  in  every 
countenance  on  the  occasion.  In  short,  the  whole  was  con- 
ducted with  the  greatest  harmony,  and  gave  universal  satis- 
faction. 

An  address  was  likewise  agreed  upon,  to  his  Excellency, 
George  Chnton,  Governor  of  the  State,  and  signed  by  Francis 
Lewis,  John  Sands,  Richard  Thornc,  Joseph  Robinson,  Prior 
Townsend,  Abm.  Skinner,  Benjamin  Coe,  Robert  Furman.  and 
James  Burling. —  Thompson^  I.  212. 

[The  church  bells  rung,  and  there  was  a  free  table.  Such 
Loyalists  as  were  to  be  found,  met  rough  treatment. — Ed.'\ 

Peace  was  celebrated  at  the  stone  house,  then  a  tavern,  late  Abm 
Rapalje's,  at  Dutch  Kills.  The  room  was  lighted  with  thirteen  lamps. 
— Tho's  Butler,  at  Dosoris,  had  an  ox  roasted  whole,  and  gave  an  enter- 
tainment, consisting,  among  other  things,  of  thirteen  turkeys,  thirteen 
geese,  thirteen  ducks,  thirteen  fowls,  &c. — There  was  a  dinner  at  Rem 
Hegeman's,  Cedar  Swamp,  and  a  liberty  pole  erected.  Col.  Sands  and 
John  Schenck,  as  they  rode  up,  were  received  with  thirteen  volleys.  The 
festival  terminated  with  a  dance,  and  a  rain  coming  on,  it  was  continued 
till  next  morning  ;  so  that  one  of  the  ladies  said  she  "  had  been  keeping 
Liberty  all  night." — There  was  also  a  celebration  at  Norwich,  and  pro 
bably  in  many  other  parts  of  the  county. 


SUITS  AGAINST  LOYALISTS. 

527.  The  courts  were  closed  in  Queens  county  from  Sep- 
tember, '73,  to  May,  1784.  The  Whig  committees  supplied 
their  place  till  August  27,  '76 ;  and  then  martial  law  prevailed 
till  the  peace,  unless  the  Police  be  an  exception.     Till  the  new 


258  CONCLUSION. 

court-house  was  built,  courts  were  held  in  the  Presbyterian 
church,  Jamaica,  and  the  Dutch  church,  Success. 

528.  To  preserve  peace  and  order  on  Long  Island,  New- 
York,  and  Staten  Island,  till  magistrates  can  be  appointed,  and 
measures  devised  forsecuring  all  offenders,  so  that  they  can  be 
brought  to  trial,  the  American  troops  were  authorized  to  con- 
fine all  offenders.     Nov.  26,  '83. 

529.  Dec.  22,  '83.  Town  meetings  were  held  throughout 
the  county,  when  the  Loyalists  did  not  venture  to  the  polls, 
and  all  the  offices  were  filled  with  Whigs. 

Robert  Hinchman  was  appointed  to  take  charge  of  the  pub- 
lic records  of  Queens  county,  December  20,  '83. 

530.  The  Superior  Court  opened  at  Albany,  when  a  great 
number  of  persons  from  very  distant  abodes  appeared,  to  tra- 
verse the  indictments  preferred  against  them  on  the  charge  of 
adhering  to  the  enemies  of  this  State;  all  of  whom  were 
treated  with  the  utmost  hospitality  and  good  humor  by  the 
worthy  inhabitants  of  that  city. — Riv.,  Oct.  29,  '83. 

A  number  of  Loyalists  of  dueens  county  were  indicted, 
but  w^hen  they  appeared  at  Albany  to  make  their  defence,  no 
one  appeared  against  them.  They  paid  their  lawyers'  fees, 
and  that  was  the  end  of  the  matter.    (See  Thompson.,  I.,  213.) 

The  trespass  act  was  aimed  at  the  Loyahsts,  and  affected 
them  seriously.  It  provided  that  in  all  actions  of  trespass,  the 
defendant  should  not  be  allowed  to  plead  the  superior  order  of  the 
enemy.  Under  this  act,  the  Whigs  sued  the  Loyalists  before  a 
justice  of  the  peace  for  impressing  a  team,  taking  a  horse,  hay, 
grain,  &c. ;  and  the  suits  generally  went  one  way.  John  Luyster, 
Cedar  Swamp,  had  a  fine  horse  taken  under  an  impress  war- 
rant by  Esq.  V.  W.,  who  returned  him  after  a  w^hile  much 
jaded.  He  sued  at  Norwich  and  recovered  damages.  Living- 
ston, defendant's  lawyer,  attempted  to  plead  the  superior  order 
of  the  enemy,  but  was  overruled  by  the  justice.  B.  Rushmore 
also  sued  him  for  cattle  driven  off  for  the  British ;  but  before 
the  trial,  V.  W.  had  gone  to  Nova  Scotia.    (See  282,  note.) 

In  the  Inferior  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  Thomas  Cornwell 
was  sued  for  trespass  by  Thomas  Waters;  John  Smith,  by 
Henry  Stock«r,  Aspinwall  Cornwell,  and  Richard  Thorne  ;  St. 


TAX  ON  QUEENS  COUNTY.  259 

Thorne,  Sr.,  by  Richardson  Sands  ;  and  Ed.  Thorne,  by  Sam'l 
Cornwell  and  Benjamin  Sands,  Sr. — Holt,  May  29,  '84. 

The  LoyaHsts,  by  feeing  Burr,  Hamilton,  and  other  of  the 
ablest  Whig  lawyers  pretty  handsomely,  succeeded  in  staving 
off  many  of  these  suits,  or  removing  them  by  certiorari  to  the 
higher  courts.  In  this  way  the  Whigs  were  frequently  frus- 
trated in  their  hopes  of  getting  satisfaction  for  damages. 

531.  Such  of  the  taxable  inhabitants  of  Queens  county 
(whether  Whig  or  Loyalist)  as  remained  within  the  British 
lines  during  the  Revolution,  were  taxed  £14,000  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  the  war.— -ATa?/  28,  '84. 


INDEX  OF  NAMES. 


Albertson,  Derrick,  robbed,  336. 
Alexander,  Josepli,  hung,  337. 
Allen,  Henry,  33,  101. 
Altrecht,  Capt.  Barent,  353,  note. 
Amberman,  Derick,  murdered,  255. 
Areson,  Benj,, robbed,  205. 


B. 


Baylis,  Capt.  Ephraim,  48,  58. 
Baylis,  Elias,  56,  57,  113. 
Baxter,  Israel,  330. 
Bennet,  Jacob,  robbed,  157. 
Birdsall,  B.,  42,  66,  81,  83,  87^  88, 

218,  292. 
Birch,  Col.,  117,  118,505. 
Blackwell,  Samuel,  6,  13,  108. 
Bloodgood,  Widow,  109. 
Bloomer,  Rev.  Joshua,  213,  240. 
Bogart,  Isaac,  1 19. 
Bogart  Tunis,  334,  368,  note. 
Bowden,  Rev.  Mr.,  213,  225,  260. 
Bowne,  Willet,  robbed,  204. 
Brewerton,  Col.  George,  245,  485. 
Brooks,  Dr.  David,  320,  397. 
Brown,  Col.  Monfort,383,483,492. 
Brush,  Major,  316,  note,  395. 
Burling,  James,  109,  520. 
Burns,  Michael,  117. 
Burnet,  Rev.  M.,  212. 
Burtis,  John,  attacked,  323. 
Burr,  James,  shot,  323. 
Butler,  John,  robbed,  411. 


Carlton,  Sir  Guy,  461,  note,  520. 


Carpenter,  Jacob,  robbed,  386. 

Clowes,  Samuel,  468. 

Cock,  Capt.  Abm.,  taken,  391. 

Cock,  Wm.,  robbed,  386. 

Cock,  Clark,  robbed,  394. 

Cock,  Samuel,  robbed,  404. 

Coe,Capt.  Benjamin,  102,103,526. 

Coe,  Jona.,  108. 

Colden,  David,  123,  191,460. 

Colden,Lt.  Gov.,  2,  note;  address- 
ed, 20. 

Coles,  Nathaniel,  horse  stolen,  415. 

Coles,  Albert,  carried  off,  397. 

Coles,  Lieut.  Robert,  54,  63. 

Cornwell,  Cor.,  robbed,  336. 

Cornwell,  Wm.,  33,90,330. 

Cornwell,  John,  33,  90. 

Cornwell,  Aspinwall,  33,305. 

Cornwell,  Hewlett,  330. 

Cornwell,  Richard,  widow  of,  rob- 
bed, 336. 

Corsa,Col.  Isaac,  190. 

Covert,  Tunis,  255. 

Craft,  Wright,  336. 

Creed,  Wm.,  113,282. 

Creed,  Benjamin,  261. 

Cruger,  John  Harris,  484. 

Cumberson,  Thomas,  shoots  a  sol- 
dier, 166. 

Cunningham,  W.,  117,  200,  note, 
368,  note. 

Cutting,  Rev.  Leonard,  338. 


D. 


Delancey,  Gen.  Oliver,   214,  368, 

482,  483. 
Delancey,  Maj.  Oliver,  112,  505. 
Dibble,  Fyler,  378. 
Dickie,  Capt.,  350,  353,  357. 


INDEX. 


261 


Ditmars,  Dowe,  108,  272. 
Ditmars,Abm  ,  72,  114. 
Dodge,  Peter,   115. 
Dodge,  Thomas,  33,  296. 
Doughty,  Samuel,  267,  note;  rob- 
bed, 365. 
Downing,  Silas,  robbed,  427. 
Doxey,  Isaiah,  96,  note,  213. 
Duryee,  Daniel,  113. 


E. 

Edsall,  Philip,  218. 
Emerick,  Lieut.  Col.,  375. 
Envidito,  John,  taken,  419. 
Erskine,  Sir  William,  117,  390. 
Everitt,  Benjamin,  robbed,  281. 


F. 

Fanning,  Col.  Edmund,  491. 
Farley,  Capt.  James,  robbed,  411. 
Farmer,  John,  l\,note. 
Field,  Hezekiah,  108. 
Fleet,  Arnold,  carried  off,  398. 
Foster,  Sol.,  shoots  a  soldier,  367. 
Franklin,  Hon.  Wm.,  407,  410. 
French,  Capt.  Joseph,  26. 
Friend,  Charles,  53. 
Froeligh,  Rev.  Sol.,  213,  note. 
Furman,  William,  113,  165. 


Glean,  William,  205. 
Greene,  Gen.  Nath'l,  letter  from,  93. 
Griswold,  .Joseph,  299. 
Guthrie,  William,  hung,  337. 


H. 


Haire,  Jona.,  shoots  a  soldier,  424. 
Haines,  Alexander,  314. 
Hale,  Capt.  N.,  368,  note. 
Hallet,  Joseph,  robbed,  132. 
Hamilton,  Col.  Archibald,  60,  182, 

193,  no<e,  195,446. 
Hammon,  Jupiter,  410,  note. 


Hart,  Rev.  Joshua,  221. 
Haviland,  David,''sheep  stolen,  211. 
Heard,  Col.,  38.  ' 
Hedger,  James,  shot,  200. 
Hegeman,  Andrew,  368,  note. 
Hegeman,  Judge  Elbert,  117. 
Hegeman,  Elbert,  334. 
Hegeman,  Joost,  425. 
Hewlett,  Capt.  Benj.,  347,  253. 
Hewlett,  Richard,  robbed,  336. 
Hewlett,  Lieut.    Col.  Richard,  31, 

35,  190,  342,  423,  486. 
Hewlett,  James,  robbed,  322. 
Hewlett,  Joseph,  91. 
Hewlett,Capt.  St.,347,  363. 
Herrold,  Samuel,  robbed,  301. 
Hicks,  Capt.  Charles,  347, 353, 359. 
Hicks,  Tho's,  22,  26  ;  robbed,  197. 
Hicks,  Serg't  William,  91. 
Higbie,  Stephen,  193,  note. 
Hinchman,  Robert,  114,  529. 
Holroyd,John,  300;  robbed,  310. 
Horton,  Rev.  Simon,  108. 
Howard,  William,  99. 
Hyler,  Capt.,  361,  362. 


Inglis,  Rev.  C,  56,  note. 
Ireland,  John,  carried  off,  376. 


Jackson,  .Tohn,  robbed,  350. 

Jackson,  Parmenas,  murdered,  354. 

Janecke,  Lieut.  Col.,  500. 

Jay,  James,  316,  note. 

Jay,  John,   draw.s  up  a  report  on 

Queens  County,  37. 
Jervis,  David,  shoots  Capt.  Martin 

and  Jim  Brown.  323. 
Jones,  Capt.  David,  350,  note,  360. 
Jones,  Hallet,  365. 
Jones,  Hon.  Thomas,  402,  468. 


Keteltas,  Rev.  Abm.,  2,  75, 
251,375. 


14. 


262 


INDEX. 


Kirby,  Benjamin,  397. 

Kirk,  John,  122,424. 

Kissain,  }3enjamin,  report  on  stock 

of  Queens  County,  79. 
Kissam,  Daniel,  Esq.,  22. 
Kissam,  Daniel  Whitehead,  41. 


Lamberson,  David,  114. 
Latham,  Dr.  Samuel,  118. 
Laton,  Capt.  David,  54,  63,  83. 
Lawrence,  Jacobus,  innkeeper,  338. 
Lawrence,  Jona.,  22,  77,  102,  108. 
Lawrence,  D.,  218. 
Lawrence,  William,  104,  107. 
Lawrence,  Richard,  108. 
Lee,  Gen.  Charles,  letter  from,  41. 
Livingston,  John,  Jr.,  57,  64,  263. 
Livingston,  Philip  J.,  463,466. 
Lloyd,  Henry,  James,  Joseph,  and 

John,  410. 
Lobden,  Stephen,  shot,  423. 
Ludlam,  Nicholas,  265,281. 
Ludlam,  William,  robbed,  282,  410, 

430. 
Ludlow,  Hon.  George  Duncan,  305, 

311,460. 
Ludlow,  Col.  Gabriel  G.,  305,  486. 
Luyster,  John,  530. 


M. 


Ma  nee,  Richard,  83,90,116. 
Martin,  Dr.  St.,  60,  64. 
Martin,  Capt.  Stephen,  shot,  323. 
Marrener,  Capt.  Wm  ,  taken,  353. 
Mather,  Rev.  M  ,  carried  off",  412. 
McEvers,  James,  64,  114. 
Meserote,  John,  157. 
Mills,  Samuel,  robbed,  281. 
Mills,  Hope,  51,224. 
Mitchell,  Benjamin,  murdered,  327, 
Mitchell,  Lieut.  Tho's,  33,  51,  63. 
Mitchell,  Uriah,  sheriff,  337. 
Monfort,  Jacobus,  424,  note. 
Monfort,  Joosf,  119. 
Moore,  Robert,  111. 
Moore,  Lambert,  117. 
.Moorc.Tiio's  Lambert,  teacher,  1 42 


Morrell,  John,  330. 

Mott,  Adam,  robbed,  336,337. 

Mott,  William,  robbed,  336. 

Mott,  John,  359. 

Mudge,  Michael,  robbed,  332. 

Muirson,  Heaihcoat,  shot,  410. 


N. 

Nostrand,  Capt.  Peter,  96. 
Nostrand,  Capt.  Daniel,  63. 


O. 

Ogden,  Dr.L,  111,256. 
Onderdonk,  Adrian,  letter  from,  71j 

117. 
Onderdonk,  Peter,  316. 
Onderdonk,  Hendrick,   115,  note; 

robbed,  315. 
Onderdonk,  Andrew,  94,  note,  102. 
Onderdonk,  Andrew  H  ,  115,  note. 


Parsons,  Gen.,  374,  388,390. 
Pearsall,  Thomas,  carried  off,  314  ; 

robbed,  336. 
Pearsall,  Israel,  robbed,  333. 
Pearsall,  Uriah,  353,  note. 
Peters,  Hewlett,  14. 
Pettet,  Benjamin,  65. 
Pine,  James,  353,  vote. 
Polhemus,  Jacob,  106. 
Polhemu.^CapL.  John,  235,288. 
Pool,  James,  robbed,  336. 
Putnam,    Gen.  Israel,   103  ;    letter 

of,  388. 


R. 


Ramage,  James,  337. 
llapalje,  John,  prisoner,  402,  note. 
Rapalje,  Daniel,  Esq.,' 26. 
Rapalje,  Cor.,slioats  a  soldier,  167. 
Rawdon,  Lord,  249,  488. 
Rnynor,  .foscph,  350. 
i'iemsen,Mai.  AI)m.,59,8J  ,83, 108. 


INDEX. 


268 


Remsen,  Col.  Jeiomus,  34;  letter 
from, 73;  94,  lOl,  102,108. 

Remsen,. Teremiah,  shoots  three  sol- 
diers, l(j7. 

Rennie,  Samuel,  107. 

Rider, Step., wounds  Geo.  Smith,  65. 

Riker,  Dr.,  100. 

Robertson,  Gov.,  104,  119,  461. 

Robinson,  Col.  Beverly,  493. 

Robinson,  Col.  Jos.,  18,  29, 66,  111. 

Rodman,  John,  15, 192. 

Rubell,  Rev.  Johannes  Casparus, 
213,  note. 

Rushniore,  Isaac,  robbed,  387,  427. 

Ryerson,  Cor's,  innkeeper,  205. 


S. 


Sands,  Benjamin,  116,  117. 
Sands,  CoL  John,  51,  71,  81,  116, 

316,520. 
Sands,  Simon,  90. 
Schoonmaker,  Rev.  Martinus,  213. 
Scott,    Gen.    John    Morin,   letters 

from,  62. 
Schenck,  Martin,  33  ;  robbed,  331. 
Seaman,  Zeb.,  17,292. 
Seaman,  Braddock,  wounded,  350. 
Seaman,  Capt.  Samuel,  360,  365. 
Seabury,  Rev.  Samuel,  491. 
Seabury,  Dr.,  65,354. 
Searing,  Dr.,  65,  354. 
Searing,  John,  robbed,  336. 
Seers,  Isaac,  letter  from,  41. 
Selleck,  Capt.  Abm.,  taken,  373. 
Sheddan,  Capt.,  boat  taken,  414. 
Simcoe,  Lieut.  Col.,  390,  399,  405, 

487. 
Silliman,Gen.,390,  402. 
Skidmore,  John,  robbed,  365. 
Skidmore,  Samuel,  robbed,  374. 
Skidmore,  Maj.  John  J.,  32, 85, 1 14. 
Skinner,  Gen.  Cortland,  483. 
Skudder,  Wm.  S.,  taken,  374,388. 
Smith,  George,  wounded,  65. 
Smith,  Joseph,  65. 
Smith,  Othniel,  constable,  1. 
Smith,  Col.  Josiah,  81,  102,  note. 
Smith,  John,  114. 
Smith,  Timothy,  293,  a. 
r  1        Smith,  TredwelJ,  robbed,  336. 


Smith,  Thomas,  Esq  ,  374,  430. 
Snififen,  Peter,  robbed,  329. 
Spooner,  Gaphineah,  267. 
Springsteen,  Caspar,  138. 
Sutton,  Wm.,  carried  off,  304,398 
Suydam,  Hendrick,  36,  note. 
Suydam,  Lambert,  letter  trom,  97. 


Talman,  John,  15,326. 
Talman,  widow,  robbed,  200. 
Tarlton,  Lieut.  Col. ,490. 
Thompson,  Lieut.  Col.,  494. 
Thome,  John,  91,  316. 
Thome,  Major  Richard,  22,  91,  94, 

118,309,316,526. 
Thome,  Tho's,  109;  robbed, 337. 
Thorne,  Capt.   Stephen,  25,    117; 

robbed,  303,330. 
Thorne,  Robert,  innkeeper,  330. 
Thorne,  Capt.  Joseph,  takes  a  whale 

boat,  330. 
Thurman,  John,  robbed,  194.  ] 
Thurston,  John,  72, 1 14. 
Tom,  Capt.  Nath'l,  22,  109. 
Toogood,  Lieut.  Wm.,  76. 
Townsend,  James,  70,  100. 
Townsend,  George,  84,  122. 
Townsend,  Jotham,  89. 
Townsend,  Samuel,  8,  16,  22,  70, 

101,122. 
Townsend,  Rich'd,  robbed,. 32 1,33  6. 
Townsend,  William,  34. 
Townsend,    Miss  Sarah,  valentine 

to,  390. 
Townsend,  John,  122,  398,  484. 
Townsend,  Prior,  526. 
TredweH,  Dr.  B.,  wife  of,  robbed, 

310. 
Troup,  Lieut.  Robert,  112. 
Tryon,  Gov.  Wm.,  117,  note,  123. 

124. 
TurnbuU,  Lieut.  Col.,  489. 


U. 


Underhill,  George,  robbed,  404. 
Underbill,  Daniel,  robbed,  404. 
Underhill,  Amos,  426. 


264 


INDEX. 


Upham,  Lieut.  Col.,  408, 410. 


V. 

Valentine,  Ob.,  310,  329. 
Valentine,  Capt.  Philip,  63,  80. 
Vanderbelt,  John,  109,  183. 
Van  Wyck,  Capt.  Tho's,  thanked, 

354,  note. 
Van  Wyck,  Cornelius,  49,  70,  101, 

109. 
Van  Wyck,  Stephen,  15,  34. 


'W. 

Wallace,  Alexander,  64, 222. 
Walton,  Abm.,  carried  off,  397. 
Warne,  William,  104,  note,  111. 
Weekes,  John,  386,  404, 422. 
Whitehead,  Benjamin,  2,  note,  64, 

257. 
Willets,  Thomas,  sheriff,  SQ. 
Willis,  John,  robbed, 430. 
Williams,  John,  letter  from,  49. 


i  Williams,  Major  William,  disarms 
!      Loyalists,  31. 

Williams,  Lieut.  Thomas,  83,  96. 

Williams,Za«e  Seaman,  Zeb., 17,292. 

Williamson,  John,  robbed,  282. 
I  Wilson,  Andrew,  teacher,  216. 

Wood,  Elijah,  352. 
I  Wood,  Selah,  robbed,  430. 
'  Wooden,  Solomon,  423. 
'  WoodhuU,  Gen.,  letters   from,  33, 
40,82,99,  100,  111,  112,190. 

Woodward,  Thomas,  shoots  a  sol- 
dier, 164- 

Woolley,  Capt.  John,  309. 

Wright,  Nicholas,  430. 

Wright,  John,  426. 

Wright,  Capt.  Jacob,  32,  103. 

Wurmb,Col.,499. 

Wyckoff,    Major   Hend'k,    carries 
money  to  Clinton,  316. 


Y. 

Youngs,  Capt.  Israel,  410, 421 ,  395. 
Youngs,  Jonas,  398. 


ERRATA. 

Page  43,  30th  line,  for  "or"  read  "an." 
Page  49,  22nd  line,  for  "  36  "  read  "  31." 
Page  58,  34th  line,  for  "  Hyman  "  read  "  Hegeman." 
Page  67,  27th  line,  for  "5s.  4d."  read  53s.  4d." 
Page  76,  27th  line,  for  "  to  "  read  "  of" 
Page  133,  28th  line,  for  "3d"  read  1st." 
Page  139,  3d  line,  for  "hedge"  read  "sedge." 
Page  151,  I6th  line,  for  "34th"  read  "38th." 
Page  153,  14th  line,  "he"  is  omitted. 
Page  188,  33d  line,  "and"  is  omitted. 
Page  189,  25th  line,  for  "Simonson's"  read  "Sammis's." 
Page  209,  2nd  line,  "and"  is  omitted. 
Page  224,  21st  line,  "all"  should  be  omitted. 

N.  B.     In  Sec.  52,  "Samuel  Tredwell"  is  omitted,  and  the  refer- 
ences are  mostly  incorrect. 


EEYOLUTIONAEY  INCIDENTS 


OF 


SUFFOLK   AND   KINGS 


COUNTIES; 


WITH  AN  ACCOUNT  OF 


THE  BATTLE  OF  LONG  ISLAND, 


AND 


THE  BRITISH  PRISONS  AND  PRISON-SHIPS  AT 
NEW-YORK. 


BY 

HENRY  ONDERDONK,  JR. 


NEVV.YORK: 

TJOAVITT  &  COMPANY,  191  BROADWAY. 

1849. 


John  F.  Trow,  Printer, 
49  Ann-It.,  N.  Y. 


PREFACE. 

The  present  volume  completes  a  plan  the  compiler  had 
some  years  since  conceived,  of  collecting  and  arranging  in 
chronological  order,  the  scattered  and  fragmentary  notices  of 
the  events  that  occurred  on  Long  Island,  during  our  Revo- 
lutionary struggle. 

The  history  of  the  Island  during  this  soul-stirring  period 
has  been  hitherto  clouded  in  gross  darkness.  Indeed  the 
very  name  scarcely  appears  on  the  pages  of  our  History, 
except  to  record  a  disastrous  defeat  of  our  arms. 

The  contents  of  these  volumes  show  that  Long  Island  is 
not  barren  in  Revolutionary  Incidents,  unique  in  their  cha- 
racter, and  instructive  to  the  student  of  our  country's  history. 

The  Counties  of  Suffolk,  Queens  and  Kings,  each  played 
a  different  and  yet  appropriate  part  in  the  great  drama  of 
the  Revolution. 

At  the  first  outbreak  of  rebellion  in  the  port  of  Boston, 
we  find  the  Puritans  of  Suffolk  assembling  in  almost  every 
town,  and  voting  resolutions  of  aid  and  sympathy  for  their 
brethren  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay.  Nor  were  these  ex- 
pressions heartless.  The  people  were  ready  to  follow  their 
leaders  in  rebellion,  the  militia  were  organized,  and  Suflblk 
armed  for  the  contest. 

Far  different  was  the  state  of  feeling  in  Queens  County. 
Here  the  Royal  Governors,  and  other  crown  ofHcers  had  oc- 
casionally resided,  and  exerted  an  overshadowing  influence. 
They  were  often  connected  with  other  wealthy  and  aristo- 
cratic families  in  the  County,  who  had  also  tl)eir  adherents 
and  dependents.  Then,  there  was  the  peaceable  Quaker, 
the  passive  Dutchman ;    and    the  Church-of-England-man, 


h  PREFACE. 

bound  to  the  King  by  a  double  tie,  as  head  of  Church  and 
State.  All  these  made  a  dead  weight,  that  the  rampant 
spirit  of  rebellion  could  hardly  move,  until  the  Congressional 
army  marched  into  the  County,  disarmed  the  Loyalists  and 
carried  off  their  leaders. 

The  population  of  Kings  County  was  mostly  Dutch,  who 
made  but  a  tardy  and  feeble  show  of  resistance  to  the  powers 
that  be  ;  her  Deputies  finally  absented  themselves  from  the 
Provincial  Congress,  and  the  flagging  spirit  of  revolt  quickly 
subsided  at  the  approach  of  the  British  fleet. 

After  the  American  army  abandoned  the  Island  to  the 
enemy,  there  was  still  a  difference  in  the  conduct  of  the 
Counties.  The  prominent  Whigs  of  Suffolk  fled  to  their 
brethren  on  the  Main,  with  what  movables  they  could  carry, 
leaving  behind  their  stock,  houses  and  farms  to  the  enemy. 
Those  who  remained,  reluctantly  took  an  oath  of  allegiance, 
which  they  never  meant  to  regard,  and  were  ever  treacherous 
subjects  of  a  King  they  had  sworn  to  obey. 

The  great  majority  of  the  people  of  Queens  County,  took 
the  oath  of  allegiance  in  good  faith,  and  observed  it. 
Most  of  the  leading  Whigs,  trusting  to  British  proclamations, 
and  not  knowing  where  to  go,  remained  at  home,  and  were 
punished  in  various  ways  for  their  undutiful  conduct. 
I\Iany  suffered  imprisonment,  which  to  some  ended  only  in 
death. 

The  case  of  Kings  County  was  somewhat  similar  to  that 
of  Queens.  Many  of  its  peace-loving  inhabitants  had  already 
deserted  their  homes  on  the  prospect  of  its  becoming  the 
theatre  of  hostilities.  The  leading  Whigs  fled  among  their 
Dutch  brethren,  some  to  New  Jersey,  and  some  up  the 
North  River,  while  a  few  who  remained  and  trusted  to  the 
chances  of  British  clemency,  were  thrown  in  the  Provost. 

Within  two  montlis  after  the  American  Army  had  given 
up  the  Island,  the  principal  inhabitants  of  the  three  Counties 
had  signed   a   representation  of  loyalty  to  King  George  the 


PREFACE.  7 

Third  ;  and  in  order  that  their  wholesome  example  of  dutiful 
return  to  obedience  might  have  its  influence  on  the  other 
rebellious  portions  of  the  State,  it  was  published  at  length  in 
the  New-York  Mercury,  with  the  names  of  all  the  signers  in 
Queens  and  Kings  Counties. 

During  the  entire  period  of  the  revolution,  the  British 
held  New-York  City,  a  part  of  Westchester  County,  and  all  of 
Staten  and  Long  Island  under  military  rule.  There  were 
no  elections — no  voting  except  at  annual  town  meetings — none 
except  town  taxes  to  pay — no  judges — no  courts  of  civil  ju- 
dicature, their  place  being  supplied  by  the  arbitrary  fiat  of  a 
King's  justice  or  some  military  character.  True,  a  summary 
Court  of  Police  was  after  a  while  established  in  New- York 
City;  and  at  length,  in  the  year  1780,  for  the  greater  con- 
venience of  His  Majesty's  loyal  subjects  on  Long  Island,  a 
Court  of  Police  was  also  opened  in  Jamaica.  The  inhabit- 
ants could  not  go  to  or  from  the  city,  or  bring  out  goods, 
without  a  permit.  The  price  of  wood  and  farmer's  produce 
was  regulated  by  proclamation  ;  their  horses,  wagons  and 
persons,  could  at  any  time  be  impressed  into  the  King's  ser- 
vice, at  a  stipulated  price.  In  the  winter  season  almost  every 
village  and  hamlet  was  filled  with  British  soldiers  and 
wagoners,  billeted  in  the  people's  houses,  or  cantoned  in  tem- 
porary huts.  The  consequence  was,  a  ready  market  and 
high  price  for  such  of  the  farmer's  produce  as  had  not  been 
previously  pilfered.  The  farmers  flourished  on  British  gold  ; 
but  as  there  were  few  opportunities  for  investing  it,  and  no 
banks  of  deposit  for  safe  keeping,  they  were  compelled  to  keep 
their  money  by  them,  and  were  often  robbed.  The  churches, 
not  of  the  established  faith,  were  mostly  occupied  by  soldiers, 
or  used  as  storehouses  and  prisons ;  some  were  even  torn  down. 
In  Suflblk  County,  the  illicit  trade  forms  a  striking  fea- 
ture. This  consisted  in  buying  imported  goods  in  New- 
York  City,  (with  the  professed  design  of  retailing  them  to 
faithful   subjects  in   the  County,)  and   then   carrying   them 


8  PREFACE. 

down  the  Island  to  secret  landing-places,  whence  they  were 
sent  across  the  Sound  in  whale-boats,  under  cover  of  night, 
and  exchanged  with  the  people  of  Connecticut  for  provisions, 
and  farmer's  produce,  of  which  the  British  army  stood  in 
great  need.  Though  this  trade  was  prohibited  by  both  Ameri- 
can and  British  authority,  yet  the  cunning  of  the  smugglers 
(who  often  acted  as  spies)  generally  eluded  the  sleepy  vigi- 
lance of  government  officials.  This  trade  was  protected  by 
the  sparse  population,  of  Suffolk  County,  the  extensive  sea- 
border,  the  absence  of  a  British  armed  force,  and  the  prover- 
bial insincerity  of  the  people  in  their  professed  allegiance. 

Owing  to  this  Whiggish  feeling  of  the  inhabitants,  every 
invading  party  of  their  brethren  from  the  Main — whether  to 
Sag  Harbor,  St.  George's,  or  Slongo — always  found  ready 
and  effectual  aid  in  guides,  food,  or  information.  Indeed 
Washington  used  to  say,  that  he  always  had  more  correct 
knowledge  by  spies,  of  the  position  and  designs  of  the  British 
army  on  Long  Island,  than  at  any  other  place.  In  fine,  the 
British  authority  in  Suffolk  County,  was  little  more  than  an 
empty  shadow. 

Quite  different  was  the  slate  of  things  in  Queens  and 
Kings  C/Ounties.  Here  the  great  body  of  the  people  were  at 
heart  loyal,  the  settled  parts  were  more  compact,  and  rarely 
free  from  the  presence  of  armed  troops,  spreading  dissipation 
and  shining  gold  with  open  hand. 

Although  the  people  of  Long  Island  had  taken  an  oath  of 
fealty  to  the  British  crown  in  1776,  they  were  never  deemed 
bonajide  British  subjects,  and  on  the  return  of  peace,  in  1783, 
(with  the  exception  of  a  few  who  were  attainted  of  treason,) 
they  quietly  slipped  off  their  oath  with  their  loyalty,  and 
without  the  formality  of  abjuring  their  allegiance,  took  their 
places  among  the  citizens  of  these  free  and  Independent 
Slates. 

Jamaica,  L.  I.,  May,  1849. 


CONTENTS 


SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 
PART  I. 

Sec.  Page 

632 — 599.     Rise  and   Progress  of  the   Revolutionary 

SrmiT, 13 

PART  II. 
600—620.     The   Submission, 42 

PART  m. 
621 — 769.    The  Armed  Occupation,        ....        62 


KINGS  COUNTY. 


PART  I. 

770 — 802.     Rise  and   Progress  oe  the   Revolutionary 

Spirit, 113 


12  CONTENTS. 


PART  II. 

Sec.  Page 

803 — 828.     Letters  relating  to  the   Battle  of  Long 

Island, 132 

PART  in. 
829—830.     The  Submission, 166 

PART  IV. 

831—964.     The  Armed  Occupation,        ....       172 

PART  V. 

Incidents  of  the  British  Prisons  and  Prison  Ships  at 

New-York, 207 


APPENDIX. 


Forms   of   Orders,  &c.,   issued   in    the    Revolution — 

Additional  Notes,  &.c.,   ....      251 


REVOLUTIONARY  INCIDENTS 


OP 


SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 


PART  I. 

REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT — SUFFOLK    COUNTY. 

532.  At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  parish  of 
South  Haven,  June  13,  '74,  Wm.  Smith,  Moderator  ; 

1 .  It  was  voted  (and  agreed),  that  the  Act  of  Parliament  for  block- 
ing up  the  port  of  Boston,  is  unconstitutional,  and  has  a  direct  ten- 
dency to  enslave  the  inhabitants  of  America,  and  put  an  end  to  all 
property. 

2.  (And  it  is  also  the  opinion  of  this  meeting),  that  if  the  Colo- 
nies all  unite  and  strictly  adhere  to  a  non-importation  agreement 
from  Great  Britain  and  the  West  Indies,  and  have  no  trade  with 
them,  we  should  have  great  reason  to  expect  in  a  short  time,  a  repeal 
of  that  oppressive  act ;  and  for  that  purpose  we  heartily  desire  that 
such  an  agreement  may  be  entered  into. 

3.  (And  it  is  further  voted  and  agreed),  that  Wm.  Smith,  Esq., 
Col.  Nath'l  Woodhull,  Col.  Wm.  Floyd,  Mr.  Thos.  Fanning,  Capt. 
Josiah  Smith,  Capt.  David  Mulford,  and  Capt.  Jona.  Baker,  be  a 
standing  committee  for  this  place,  to  correspond  with  the  Committee 
of  Correspondence  in  the  city  of  N.  Y.,  and  others,  and  that  they 
immediately  communicate  the  above  sentiments  to  them. 

2 


14  REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 

533.  At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  East  Hampton, 
legally  warned  by  the  Trustees,  June  17,  "74,  Eleazar  Mil- 
ler, Esq.,  Moderator ; 

1st.  Voted,  That  vv^e  will  to  the  ntmost  of  our  abilities  assert, 
and  in  a  lawful  manner  defend  the  liberties  and  immunities  of  British 
America  ;  that  we  will  co-operate  with  our  brethren  in  this  Colony 
in  such  measures  as  shall  appear  best  adapted  to  save  us  from  the 
burdens  we  fear,  and  in  a  measure  already  feel,  from  the  principles 
adopted  by  the  British  Parliament  respecting  the  town  of  Boston  in 
particular,  and  the  British  Colonies  in  North  America  in  general. 

2d.  Voted,  That  a  non-importation  agreement  through  the  colo- 
nies is  the  most  likely  means  to  save  us  from  the  present  and  future 
troubles. 

3c?.  Voted,  That  John  Chatfield,  Esq.,  Col.  Abm.  Gardiner,  Bur- 
net Miller,  Stephen  Hedges,  Thos.  Wickham,  Esq.,  John  Gardiner, 
Esq.,  and  Capt.  David  Mulford  be  a  standing  committee  for  keeping 
up  a  correspondence  with  the  city  of  N.  Y.,  and  the  towns  of  this 
colony  ;  and,  if  there  is  occasion,  with  other  colonies  ;  and  that  they 
transmit  a  copy  of  these  votes  to  the  committee  of  correspondence 
for  the  city  of  N.  Y. 

Voted  unanimously,  not  one  dissenting  voice."' 

BURNET  MILLER,  Town  Clerk. 

534.  At  a  general  Town  Meeting,  June  21,  '74,  the 
inhabitants  of  Huntington  came  into  the  following  resolu- 
tions : 

1st.  That  every  freeman's  property  is  absolutely  his  own,  and  no 
man  has  a  right  to  take  it  from  him  without  liis  consent,  expressed 
either  by  himself  or  his  representative. 

2c?.  That  therefore,  all  taxes  and  duties  imposed  on  His  Majesty's 
subjects  in  the  American  Colonies  by  the  authority  of  Parliament, 
are  wholly  unconstitutional,  and  a  plain  violation  of  the  most  essen- 
tial rights  of  British  subjects. 

3c?.  That  the  Act  of  Parliament  lately  passed  for  shutting  up  the 
port  of  Boston,  or  any  other  means  or  device,  under  color  of  law,  to 
compel  them,  or  any  other  of  His  Majesty's  American  subjects,  to 
submit  to  Parliamentary  taxations,  are  subversive  of  their  just  and 
constitutional  liberty. 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  -  15 

Ath.  That  we  are  of  opinion  that  our  brethren  of  Boston  are  now 
suffering  in  the  common  cause  of  British  America. 

oth.  That  therefore  it  is  the  indispensable  duty  of  all  the  colonies 
to  unite  in  some  effectual  measures  for  the  repeal  of  said  Act,  and 
every  other  Act  of  Parliament  whereby  they  are  taxed  for  raising 
a  revenue. 

6th.  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  meeting,  that  the  most  effectual 
means  for  obtaining  a  speedy  repeal  of  said  Acts,  will  be  to  break  off 
all  commercial  intercourse  with  Great  Britain,  Ireland,  and  the  En- 
glish West  [ndia  colonies. 

nth.  And  we  hereby  declare  ourselves  ready  to  enter  into  these 
or  such  other  measures  as  shall  be  agreed  upon  by  a  General  Con- 
gress of  all  the  colonies  ;  and  we  recommend  to  the  General  Con- 
gress to  take  such  measures  as  shall  be  most  effectual  to  prevent 
such  goods  as  are  at  present  in  America,  from  being  raised  to  an  ex- 
travagant price. 

And,  lastly,  we  appoint  Col.  Piatt  Conklin,  John  Sloss  Hobart, 
Esq.,  and  Thos.  Wicks,  a  committee  for  this  town,  to  act  in  con- 
junction with  the  committees  of  the  other  towns  in  the  county,  as  a 
general  committee  for  the  county,  to  correspond  with  the  committee 
of  N.  Y. 

ISRAEL  WOOD,  President. 

535.  The  above  Resolutions  were  also  adopted  at  Smithtown  ; 
and  Aug.  9,  it  was  voted  that  "  Sol.  Smith,  Dan'l  Smith,  and  Thos. 
Tredwell  be  a  committee  fully  empowered,  in  conjunction  with  the 
committees  of  the  other  towns,  to  choose  delegates  to  represent  this 
county  at  the  General  Congress,  and  to  do  all  that  shall  be  necessary 
in  defence  of  our  just  rights  and  liberties  against  the  unconstitutional 
attacks  of  the  British  Ministry  and  Parliament. 

DAN'L  SMITH,  CVk." 

N.  Y.  Circular  to  the  several  Counties,  Avg.  9,  '74. 

536.  Gentlemen  :  The  distresses  of  the  poor  of  the  town  of 
Boston,  now  sinking  under  the  hand  of  power,  call  for  our  tender 
and  compassionate  concern.  Every  motive  of  policy  and  humanity 
should  excite  us  to  contribute  liberally  to  their  immediate  redress. 
They  are  our  countrymen  and  brethren,  suffering  in  the  common 
cause  of  liberty,  and  their  hard  condition  may  one  day  be  our  own. 
We  recommend  a  generous  subscription  for  the  support  of  the  indi- 


16  REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 

gent  of  that  oppressed  town.  In  some  instances  it  may  be  most 
convenient  to  contribute  in  wheat  or  flour,  which  will  be  equally 
serviceable.  The  interest  of  the  whole  Continent  requires  that  pro- 
vision should  be  made  for  all  who  become  sufferers  in  our  common 
cause,  and  the  honor  and  reputation  of  this  Colony  must  animate  us 
to  distinguish  ourselves  on  so  benevolent  an  occasion. 

587.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Committees  of  Correspondence 
for  the  county  of  Suffolk,  at  the  C^^ounty  Hall,  Nov.  15,  '74 : 

1.  Voted,  That  we  recommend  it  to  the  several  towns  in  this 
county  to  set  forward  a  subscription  for  the  employment  and  relief 
of  the  distressed  poor  in  the  town  of  Boston,  to  be  collected  in  such 
manner  as  the  committees  in  each  town  shall  judge  proper ;  to  be  in 
readiness  to  be  forwarded  early  next  spring. 

2.  Voted,  That  John  Foster  have  the  care  of  procuring  a  vessel 
to  call  at  the  several  harbors  in  this  county,  to  receive  and  carry  the 
above  donations  to  Boston. 

3.  Voted,  That  we  fully  approve  of  the  proceedings  of  the  late 
Continental  Congress,  and  recommend  it  to  the  committees  of  the 
different  towns  to  see  that  the  Association  by  them  entered  into  on 
behalf  of  themselves  and  their  constituents,  be  strictly  observed. 

EZRA  L'HOMMEDIEU,  Clerk. 

538.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Committees  of  Observation  for  the 
several  towns  and  districts  of  Huntington,  Smithtown,  Islip, 
and  South  Haven,  and  some  of  the  principal  inhabitants  of 
the  town  of  Brookhaven,  held  at  Smithtown,  Feb.  23,  '75, 
Col.  Piatt  Conklin  being  Chairman, 

2.  Resolved  ncm.  con.,  That  we  think  ourselves  under  obligations 
of  gratitude  to  the  worthy  gentlemen  in  particular  who  represented 
this  County  in  the  late  Continental  Congress,  and  to  that  whole  as- 
sembly in  general,  for  their  noble,  patriotic  and  faithful  discharge  of 
their  important  trust. 

3.  Resolved  nem.  con..  That  a  letter  be  sent  to  Wm.  Nicoll  and 
Nath'l  Woodliull,  Estjrs.,  Representatives  of  this  County,  informing 
them  that,  if  a  motion  should  be  made  in  tiie  house  for  appointing 
Delegates  to  represent  this  Province,  at  the  Continental  Congress, 
to  be  held  at  Philadelphia,  in  May  next,  it  is  our  opinion  and  desire, 
that  they  should  join  in  their  appointment. 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  17 

4.  Resolved  nem.  con.,  That  in  case  the  Assembly  do  not  appoint 
Delegates,  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  the  city  of  N.  Y.,be 
desired  to  call  a  Provincial  Convention  for  that  purpose. 

N.  B. — Most  of  the  towns  and  districts  in  this  County,  have  at  pub- 
lic town  meetings,  fully  adopted  the  measures  recommended  by  the 
Congress,  and  determined  on  a  strict  observation  of  the  Association. 

539.  Nathan  Fordham,  Burnet  Miller,  and  Thos.  Youngs,  a  sub- 
committee, at  Sag  Harbor,  request  of  Congress,  (Ap.  2d,  '75,) 
ammunition  and  warlike  stores,  suitable  for  an  inclosed  list  of  cannon, 
and  that  the  cannon  may  be  mounted  on  carriages,  as  they  are  much 
exposed  to  the  ravages  of  the  Ministerial  army. 

640.  Robt.  Hempstead  M^as  Chairman  of  a  meeting  of  the  Com- 
mittees from  the  different  towns  in  Suffolk,  at  the  County  Hall,  Ap. 
6,  '75,  who  appointed  Col.  Wm.  Floyd,  Col.  Nath'l  Woodhull,  Col. 
Phineas  Fanning,  Thomas  Tredwell,  and  John  Sloss  Hobart,  Esqrs., 
Deputies  to  the  N.York  Provincial  Convention  for  choosing  Delegates 
to  the  Continental  Congress,  to  be  held  at  Philadelphia,  in  May. 

541.  To  the  Provincial  Congress,  to  be  held,  May  22d,  '75,  Col. 
Nath'l  Woodhull,  John  Sloss  Hobart,  Thomas  Tredwell,  John 
Foster,  Ezra  L'Hommedieu,  Thos.  Wickham,  James  Havens,  and 
Selah  Strong,  were  elected  Deputies  for  one  year.     May  5. 

54*2.  At  a  meeting  of  freeholders  and  other  inhabitants 
of  Brookhaven,  June  8,  '75 ;  By  a  large  majority  were 
chosen  16  persons,  as  a  Committee  of  Observation  to  repre- 
sent said  town  and  deliberate  on  other  matters  relative  to  our 
present  political  welfare.  Agreed  that  the  last  Tuesday  in 
June,  be  appointed  as  the  day  for  the  Committee  to  meet. 

The  Committee  met  at  Coram,  June  27  ;  Present,  John  Wood- 
hull,  Esq.,  Thos.  Helme,  Esq.,  John  Robinson,  Thos.  Fanning,  Lt. 
Wm,  Brewster,  Noah  Hallock,  Jos.  Brown,  John  Woodhull,  Jr., 
Nath'l  Roe,  Jr.,  Capt.  Jona.  Baker,  Dan'l  Roe,  Sam'l  Thompson,  of 
Manor  St.  George ;  Wm.  Smith,  and  Jonah  Hulse,  of  Patentship  of 
Moriches  ;  Capt.  Josiah  Smith. 

Then  proceeded,  and  chose  John  Woodhull, Esq., Ch'n,  and  Sam'l 
Thompson,  Clerk,  and  entered  into  the  following  resolutions  : 

1.  Resolved  nem.  con.,  That  we  express  our  loyalty  to  His  Ma- 


18  REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 

jesty,  King  Geo.  III.,  and  acknowledge  him  as  our  rightful  lord  and 
sovereign. 

3.  Resolved  unanimously,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Commit- 
tee, that  the  several  Acts  passed  in  the  British  Parliament,  for  the 
purpose  of  raising  a  revenue  in  America  ;  also  the  Acts  for  stopping 
the  Port  of  Boston  ;  for  altering  their  charter  and  government ;  for 
establishing  the  Roman  Catholic  religion,  and  abolishing  the  equita- 
ble system  of  English  laws  and  erecting  in  their  stead  French  Despo- 
tic Government  in  Canada ;  as  also  the  Act  for  restraining  the  New 
England  fishery ;  and  further  declaring  they  have  power  to  make 
laws  binding  on  us  in  all  cases  whatsoever,  are  contrary  to  the  con- 
stitution and  subversive  of  our  legal  rights  as  EngUsh  freemen  and 
British  subjects. 

4.  Resolved  nem.  con.,  That  we  will  use  our  utmost  endeavor 
strictly  to  adhere  to  the  Resolutions  of  the  Honorable  Continental 
Congress,  and  to  comply  with  the  injunctions  of  our  Provincial  Con- 
vention, which  (under  God)  we  hope  is  the  most  eifectual  means 
to  obtain  redress  of  our  present  grievances,  and  save  us  from  im- 
pending ruin. 

5.  We  do  unanimously  make  this  our  apology  to  the  respectable 
public  and  to  our  several  Congresses,  that  we  have  come  so  late  into 
Congressional  measures,  and  hope  a  veil  may  be  cast  over  our  past 
conduct ;  for  our  remissness  was  not  for  want  of  patriotic  spirit,  but 
because  opposition  ran  so  high  in  some  parts  of  this  town,  which 
arose,  we  verdy  believe,  from  want  of  better  information. 

6.  It  is  unanimously  resolved,  that  we  will  keep  a  strict  watch 
that  no  provisions  be  transported  from  the  bounds  of  our  constituents, 
60  as  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  our  enemies. 

7.  Ordered,  that  the  proceedings  of  this  meeting  be  printed  by 
John  Holt. 

643.  [The  General  Association  (see  Queens  Co.,  25,)  was  al- 
most unanimously  signed  in  Suffolk,  only  236  recusants.  The 
original  lists  may  be  seen  in  Vol.  XXX.  of  the  MS.  Papers  of  the 
N.  Y.  Provincial  Congress,  in  the  Secretary  of  State's  Office,  at  Al- 
bany, and  are  reprinted  in  Force's  American  Archives,  III.,  608. 
—Ed.] 

544.  May  12,  '75.  Israel  Youngs  of  Cold  Spring  brought  in  liis 
sloop  from  N.  Y.  Henry  Dawkins  an  engraver,  whom  he  employed 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  19 

9  weeks  in  the  garret  of  his  house  counterfeiting  bills  of  credit. 
Isaac  Ketcham  went  to  Philadelphia  for  the  paper  used.  They  were 
arrested  by  aid  of  Thos.  Wicks,  taken  before  the  Huntington  Com- 
mittee at  Nath'l  Williams'  Tavern,  and  thence  to  N.  Y.  where  they 
were  confined  till  July  18,  when  Dawkins  was  sent  to  Westchester 
jail ;  and  Israel  and  Isaac  Youngs  to^Litchfield,  where  they  lived  at 
their  own  expense  till  Nov.  25,  '76,  when  they  went  off  leaving 
£68  10  with  the  jailer.  Ketcham  was  probably  discharged  Aug.  17. 
Jour.  445,  718,  577.     Cor.  464.     (See  also  53.) 

June  3,  '75.  Philip  Youngs  was  taken  to  N.  Y.  by  Thos. 
Wicks  and  Eliph.  Brush,  charged  by  Jacob  Brush  and  Sam'l  Brown 
with  counterfeiting.  The  houses  of  George  and  Isaac  Youngs  and 
John  Williams  were  searched,  but  nothing  found.  [Philip  was  ac- 
quited,  June  17. — Ed.  Jour.  411,  714. 

545.  Col.  Phineas  Fanning,  David  Mulford,  Esq.,  Capt.  Tim, 
Earle,  were  appointed  muster  masters  of  the  troops  to  be  raised  in 
Suffolk,  July  8,  '75. 

546.  June  29,  '75,  Suffolk  Co.  Warrants. 

1.  John  Hulbert,  Capt.  ;  John  Davis,  1st  Lt. ;  Wm.  Havens, 
2d  Lt, 

2.  John  Grennel,  Capt. ;  Wm.  Philips,  1st  Lt. ;  Philip  Conklin, 
2d  Lt. 

3.  Dan'l  Griffen,  Capt;  Benj.  Marvin,  1st  Lt. ;  Nath'l  Norton, 
2d  Lt. 

Capt.  John  Grenell,  of  Huntington,  July  14,  '75. 
Sam'l    Smith,  1st  Lt. ;  Alex.  Ketcham,  2d  Lt. ;   in  place  of 
Wm.  Philips  and  Philip  Conklin  declined. 

547.  Whilst  the  British  were  at  Boston,  their  vessels  occasionally 
carried  off  stock  from  Suffolk  Co. 

July  5,  '75.  The  people  of  E.  and  S.  Hampton  pray  Congress,  that 
Capt.  Hulbert's  company,  now  raising  for  Schuyler's  army,  may  remain 
to  guard  the  stock  on  the  common  land  of  Montauk,  (2000  cattle  and  3 
or  4000  sheep)  from  the  ravages  of  the  enemy.  Jour.  75. 

Jf/ly  31,  '75.  Congress  allow  Griffing  and  Hulbert's  companies  to 
remain  to  guard  stock.  Jour.  95. 

Aug.  7,  '75.  13  sail  of  British  shipping  are  seen  off  Oyster  Ponds, 
looking  for  stock,  as  is  supposed.  Lt.  Norton's  company  have  no  pow- 
der. Cor.  69. 


20  REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 

Aug.  7,  '75.  Congress  order  Wooster  to  send  from  his  camp  at  Har- 
lem, four  companies  (to  be  under  command  of  Col.  Phineas  Fanning,) 
to  guard  stock  on  the  east  end  of  L.  I.  Congress  also  vote  200  lbs. 
powder  to   the  order  of  Ezra  L'Hommedieu  and  John  Foster. 

Jour.  102, 103. 

Aug.  18,  '75.  Congress  recommend  the  removal  of  stock  from 
Gardiners  and  Plum  I.  Jour.  110. 

Aug.  21, 'lb.  Congress  hear  that  36  cattle  and  1100  sheep  are 
taken  from  Fisher's  I.,  and  40  or  50  cattle  and  1800  or  2000  sheep  from 
Gardiner's  I.,  by  Col.  Abijah  Willard.  Jour.  112, 119. 

Aug.  22,  '75.  Col.  Gardiner  of  Plum  I.,  says  Col.  Willard  threatens 
to  come  again  with  force  sufficient  to  take  off  stock  from  L.  I. 

Cor.  65. 

Sep.  7,  '75.  Capt.  John  Hulbert  marched  from  Montauk,  but  his 
men  have  borrowed  guns.  Cor.  80. 

Sep.  14,  '75.  Ebenezer  Piatt  received  of  Congress  100  lbs.  of  pow- 
der. Jour.  146. 

548.  Thos.  Helme,  Chairman  fro  iem.,  writes  to  Congress,  Aug. 
3,  '75,  that  Parson  James  Lyon,  [put  under  guard  in  Wooster's 
Camp,  Aug.  11,]  Benj.  Floyd,  Dr.  Gilbert  Smith,  Joseph  Denton, 

Richard  FJoyd,  and  John  Baleys,  innkeeper,  have  from  the  beginning 
taken  every  method  to  seduce  the  ignorant  and  counteract  the  mea- 
sures recommended  for  redress  of  grievances.     They  d n  all 

Congresses  and  Committees,  wishing  they  were  in  h — 1.  They  have 
declared  they  will  furnish  the  men-of-war  and  cutters  with  provi- 
sions. 

Avg.  21,  '75.    List  of  Field  Officers  of  2d  Bat. 

549.  David  Mulford,  1st  Col.  ;  Jonas  Hedges,  2d  Col. ;  Uriah 
Rogers,  1st  Major;  Geo.  Herrick,  2d  Major;  John  Gelston,  Adj. ; 
Phineas  Howell,  Q.  M. 

Company  Officers. 

1.  Capt.  David  Howell;  1st  Lt.  Jer'h  Post;  2dLt.  Paul  Jones  ; 
En.  Zeph.  Rogers. 

2.  Capt.  John  Dayton,  jr. ;  1st  Lt.  Isaac  Mulford  Hunting ;  2d  Lt. 
John  Miller,  jr.  ;  En.  Wm.  Hedges,  jr. 

3.  Capt.  David  Pierson ;  1st  Lt.  Dan'l  Hedges;  2d  Lt.  David 
Sayre ;  En.  Theoph's  Pierson. 

4.  Capt.  David  Fithian;  1st  Lt.  Sam'l  Conkhn ;  2d  Lt.  Thos. 
Baker  ;  En.  Dan'l  Conklin. 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  21 

6.  Capt.  St.  Howell;  1st  Lt.  John  White,  jr.;  2d  Lt.  Lemuel 
Wick ;  En.  Isaac  Halsey. 

6.  Capt.  Wm.  Rogers,  jr.  ;  1st  Lt.  Jesse  Halsey ;  2d  Lt.  Henry 
Halsey  ;  En,  Nath'l  Rogers. 

7.  Capt.  Josiah  Howell,  jr. ;  1st  Lt.  Nath'l  Howell ;  2d  Lt.  Mat. 
Howell;  En.  Wm.  Stephens. 

8.  Capt.  Sam'l  L'Hommedieu  ;  1st  Lt.  Silas  Jessup;  2dLt.  Ed- 
ward Conklin ;  En.  Dan'l  Fordham. 

9.  Capt.  John  Sandford  ;  1st  Lt.  Edward  Topping;  2d  Lt.  Philip 
Howell ;  En.  John  Hildreth. 

550.  At  Smithto\\Ti,  Sept.  4,  '75,  Philetus  Smith  w^as  chosen 
Capt. ;  Edmund  Smith,  jr.  1st  Lt. ;  Dan'l  Tillotson,  2d  Lt.;  and  Richard 
Smith,  En.,  under  the  inspection  of  Dan'l  Smith,  Jacob  Mills  and 
Thos.  Tredwell,  Committee-men. 

551.  Sep.  4,  '75.  Matthew  Rose  was  chosen  Capt.;  Hugh 
Smith,  1st  Lt. ;  David  Fanning,  2d  Lt. ;  and  John  Smith,  Ensign,  of 
the  3d  Company  of  1st  Reg.  of  Suffolk,  at  Southhold,  in  presence  of 
Tho's  Fanning  and  Wm.  Smith,  Committee-men. 

Sep.  6,  '75.  Sam'l  Thompson  was  chosen  Capt.,  Abm.  Wood- 
hull,  1st.  Lt. ;  Isaac  Davis,  2d  Lt. ;  and  Dan'l  Satterly,  Ensign,  of  1st 
Company  of  Brookhaven,  in  presence  of  Nath'l  Roe,  jr.,  Rich'd 
Woodhull,  and  Sam'l  Thompson,  Committee-men. 

552.  At  a  nneeting  at  Smithtown,  Sept.  5,  '75,  for  nomina- 
ting Field  Officers  for  the  Western  Reg.  of  Suffolk,  present, 
From  Huntington^  John  SlossHobart,  E?q.,  Tho's  Wickes,  Esq., 
Dr.  Gilbert  Potter,  Capt.  Timothy  Carll,  Henry  Scudder,  Stephen 
Ketcham,Tho's  Brush  jr.,  John  Squicr,  Eben'r  Piatt.  From  Smithtown, 
Tho's  Tredvvell,  Esq.,  Jeffery  Smith,  Jacob  Mills,  Jonas  Mills,  Sam'l 
Phillips,  Philetus  Smith,  Edmund  Smith,  Dan'l  Smith.  From  Brook- 
haven,  4*c.,  Wm.  Smith,  Tho's  Fanning,  Noah  Hallock,  Wm  Brews- 
ter, Jona.  Baker,  John  Woodhull.  Jos.  Brown,  Sam'l  Thompson, 
Dan'l  Roe,  Nath'l  Roe.  Wm.  Floyd  was  nominated  Col. ;  Dr.  Gil- 
bert Potter,  Lt.  Col. ;  Capt.  Nathan  Woodhull,  1st  Major;  Edmund 
Smith,  2d  Major ;  Philip  Roc,  Adj.  ;  John  Roe,  jr.,  Q.  M. ;  Col.  Nath'l 
Woodhull,  Brig.  Gen. 

553.  Sep.  5,  '75.  Eben'r  Miller  was  chosen  Capt.  ;  Caleb  Wood- 
hull,  1st  Lt. ;  Jas.  Davis,  2d  Lt. ;  and  David  Davis,  Ensign,  of  2d  Com- 
2* 


22  REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 

pany  in  Brookliaven,  in  presence  of  Tho's  Helme,  John  Woodhnll 
and  Noah  Hallock,  Committee-men. 

554.  Committee  Chamber,  Huntwgton,  Sept.  11,  '75. 

Officers  of  the  1st  three  Militia  Companies. 

1.  Jolm  Wickes,Capt.;  Epenetus  Conklin,  1st  Lt.;  Jonah  Wood,2 J 
Lt. ;  Ebenezer  Prime  Wood,  Ensign. 

2.  Jesse  Briish,Capt. ;  Epenetus  Conklin,  1st  Lt. ;  PhiHp  Conklin, 
2d  Lt. ;  Jos.  Titus,  Ensign. 

3.  Timothy  Carll,  Capt. ;  Gilbert  Fleet,  1st  Lt. ;  Joel  Scudder, 
2dLt. ;  Nath'l  Buffet,  jr..  Ensign. 

4.  The  South  part  not  yet  elected  officers. 

555.  At  a  meetino;  of  the  several  committees  in  the  1st 
Beg.  of  Suffolk  Co.  held  at  Smithtown,  Oct.  24,  '75  Wm. 
Smith  was  appointed  Chairman  ;  present, 

Jesse  Brush,  Esq.,  John  SqmreF,StephenKetcham,Tho's  Wickes, 
Esq.,  Timothy  Ketcham,  Henry  Scudder,  Dr.  Gilbert  Potter,  Tho's 
Brush,  jr.,  Israel  Wood,  Stephen  Kelsey,  Ebenezer  Piatt,  of  Hunting- 
ton. Dan'l  Tillotson,  Tho's  Tredvvelf,  Esq.,  Jeffery  Smith,  Philetus 
Smith,  Dan'l  Smith,  Capt.  Job  Smith,  Jacob  Mills,  Edmund  Smith,  jr, 
Epenetus  Smith,  Sam'l  Philips,  of  Smithlown.  Wm.  Smith,  Jonah 
Hulse,  of  Manor  St.  George.  Capt.  Josiah  Smith,  of  Moriches. 
Capt.  Sam'l  Thompson,  Wm.  Brewster,  John  WoodhuU,  Dan'l  Roe, 
Nath'l  Roe,  Noah  Hidlock,  Capt.  Jona.  Baker,  Richard  Woodhull, 
Esq.,  of  Broolhaven. 

JcfFery  Smith  was  nominated  1st  Major  in  place  of  Nathan  Wood- 
hull  declined  ;  and  Capt.  Jesse  Brush  2d  Major  in  place  of  Edmund 
Smith,  jr.,  declined. 

556.  Nov.  7,  '75.  John  Sloss  Hobart,  Tho's  Tredwell,  Selah 
Strong,  Nath'l  Woodhull,  Ezra  L'llommcdieu,  David  Gclston,  Tho's 
Wickham,  and  Dan'l  Brown,  Esqrs.,  were  elected  Deputies  to  Pro- 
vincial Congress. 

557.  Nov.  27,  '75.  Lt.  Case  took  his  commission  [as  Capt.] . 
Tho's  Hempstead,  1st  Lt.;  Wm.  Hoiton,  jr.,  2d  Lt.  ;  John  Drake,  En- 
sign. 

558.  Iliiu/ingum,  Dec.  10,  '75. 
Sni :  You  will  receive  this  by  Major  Brush,  who  is  appointed  by 

the  Committee  to  lay  before  the  Congress,  the  state  of  the  town  as 


SUFFOLK   COUNTY.  23 

to  their  slackness  in  military  preparations,  as  also  that  we  have  great 
reason  to  believe  all  methods  are  used  by  our  neighbors  to  make  them 
indifferent  in  this  great  contest.  We  not  only  beg  your  advice  but 
assistance,  for  it  is  my  opinion,  if  there  is  not  a  sufficient  number  of 
men  immediately  sent  to  effectually  subdue  Queens  Co.  and  to  intimi- 
date the  people  among  us,  a  great  many  from  here  will  soon  be  in  a  little 
better  condition  than  the  rebels  of  Queens  Co.,  which  we  have  great 
reason  to  believe  is  making  interest  with  our  slaves  and  other  ser- 
vants. I  have  exerted  myself  in  my  station,  but  if  nothing  is  done 
by  your  House,  I  must  be  obliged  to  desist :  but  as  to  myself  as  an 
indi\idual,  I  am  determined  to  live  and  die  free. 
I  am  sir,  your  most  humble  servant, 

GILBERT  POTTER. 
To  John  S.  Hobart  Esq.  in  Pro.  Congress. 

559.  Commissions  issued  Dec.  12,  '75.  2d  Comp.  Jona.  Ti- 
tus, Capt. ;  Joshua  Rogers,  1st  Lt. ;  Tho's  Brush,  2d  Lt.  3c?  Comp. 
Joel  Scudder,  Capt. ;  Nath'l  Buffit,  1st  Lt. ;  Epenetus  Smith,  2d  Lt. ; 
John  Hart,  Ensign. 

560.  Manor  St.  George,  Dec.  15,  '75. 
Gentlemen  :  There  have  enlisted  as  minute  men  70  able-bodied 

men,  within  the  bounds  of  Brook  Haven,  Smithtown,  Manor  St. 
George  and  the  Patentship  of  Moriches,  who  have  chosen  Dan'l 
Roe,  Capt.;  Hugh  Smith,  IstLt.;  Caleb  Brewster,  2dLt.;  Eben'r  Pliil- 
ips.  Ensign.  And  as  Hugh  Smith  and  David  Fanning,  1st  and  2d 
Lts.  of  the  3d  Company  in  Brookhaven,  (whereof  Nath'l  Roe  is 
Capt.)  have  enlisted  in  the  minute  service,  the  company  have  chosen 
John  Smith,  1st  Lt.  ;  Wm.  Baker,  2d.  Lt. ;  Doxey  Lane,  Ensign. 

The  choice  of  the  above  was  made  in  presence  of  us,  who  are  of 
the  committee.  The  minute  men  (who  are  much  needed  to  still  in- 
testine disaffection)  want  powder,  ball,  guns,  drum,  colors  &c.,  which 
are  not  to  be  had  here  ;  and  if  to  be  bought,  a  great  part  of  the  com- 
pany not  able  to  purchase. 

Your  humble  servants, 

WAL  SMITH. 

JOSIAH  SJVIITH. 
To  Pro.  Congress. 


24  REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 

561.  Jan.  5,  "76.  Congress  send  1000  lbs.  powder  to  Hunting- 
ton Committee. 

662.  Jan.  12,  '76.  Gilbert  Potter  certifies  that  St.  Kelsey  and 
Eben'r  Piatt,  Committee-men,  had  inspected  the  election  of  officers  at 
Cow  Harbor,  5th  comp.  of  Huntington,  viz.  Piatt  Veal,  Capt. ; 
Michael  Heart,  1st  Lt. ;  Isaac  Dennis,  2d  Lt. ;  Jacob  Conklin,  En. 

Thos.  Wickes  and  Jesse  Brush  certify  the  election  of  John 
Buffet,  Capt. ;  Isaac  Thompson,  1st  Lt. ;  Zeb.  Ketcham,  En.  of  the 
4th  Comp. 

Suffolk  Co.,  Jan.  24,  '76. 

563.  Gentlemen  : — In  pursuance  to  your  order,  we  have  ap- 
pointed the  Field-officers  for  the  minute  men  and  artillery  company  in 
this  county.  The  militia  of  this  county  but  little  exceeds  2900. 
The  great  exposedness  of  the  east  end,  and  the  extensiveness  of  the 
county,  induces  us  to  desire  a  no.  of  Continental  troops  may  be  sta- 
tioned here.  We  make  no  doubt  the  Continent  proposes  to  protect 
this  Island,  and  hope  a  sufficient  force  may  be  stationed  here. 

We  have  a  no.  of  poor  men  who  are  good  soldiers  and  friends  to 
the  cause,  and  would  be  glad  to  enlist  as  minute  men,  but  have  no 
guns.  We  should  be  glad  to  know  if  some  could  be  procured  at 
the  public  expense. 

The  situation  of  this  county  makes  it  difficult  to  raise  and  train 
the  minute  men.  They  complain  that  they  are  not  sufficiently  paid, 
considering  the  great  distance  they  are  obliged  to  travel ;  many,  8, 
10,  and  12  miles,  and  that  on  foot,  to  exercise.  The  officers  also, 
on  the  same  account,  are  at  considerable  expense,  besides  the  ex- 
pense of  raising  their  companies,  and  pray  they  may  be  considered. 
By  order  of  the  Committee, 

WM.  SMITH,  Chairman. 

664.  OJicers  of  Minute  Men. 

Feb.  20,  '76. 

Josiah  Smith,  Col. ;  John  Hulbert,  2d  Col. ;  Isaac  Reeve,  1st 
Major;  Jona.  Baker,  2d  Major ;  Ephraim  Marvin,  Adj.,  (in  place  of 
Isaac  Overton,  declined,)  Eben.  Dayton,  Q.  M. 

Officers  of  the  Artillery. 
Wm.  Rogers,  Captain  ;  Jolm  Franks,  Capt.  Lt. ;  Jerem'h  Rogers, 
1st  Lt. ;  Thos.  Baker,  2d  Lt. ;  John  Tuthill,  Lt.  fireworker. 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  25 

565.  Isaac  Thompson,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Islip, 
writes  to  Congress,  Feb.  9,  '76,  that  there  never  has  been  a  militia 
company  in  that  precinct,  but  that  the  east  part  bore  arms  in  the 
Smithtown  company,  and  the  west  were  under  a  Huntington  Captain, 
which  has  caused  uneasiness.  The  people,  with  the  consent  of  Col. 
Potter,  assembled  and  chose  Benajah  Strong,  Captain ;  Jerem'h  Ter- 
ry, 1st  Lt. ;  Sam'l  Oakley,  2d  Lt. ;  and  Annen  Mowbray,  En.,  who 
signed  the  association.     The  company  numbers  36  or  37. 

566.  Thos.  Cooper  and  S.  Halsey,  Committee-men,  certify  the 
election  of  Zeph.  Rogers,  Capt. ;  Nath'l  Howel,  jr.,  1st  Lt. ;  and 
Mat.  Sayer,  2d  Lt.,  of  a  company  of  minute  men  in  South  Hampton, 
before  Feb.  23,  '76. 

Maltby  Gelston  certifies  the  election  of  David  Pierson,  Capt. ; 
John  Foster,  jr.,  1st  Lt. ;  Abm.  Rose,  2d  Lt. ;  and  Edward  Topping, 
En.,  of  another  company  of  minute  men  in  South  Hampton. 

Ezekiel  Mulford,  Capt.;  John  Miller,  1st  Lt. ;  and  Nath'l  Hand, 
2d  Lt.,  of  a  company  of  minute  men  at  East  Hampton. 

567.  Wm.  Smith,  Chairman,  requests  of  Congress,  March  1,  '76, 
the  loan  of  £500,  to  be  lodged  with  the  Treasurer,  Col.  Josiah 
Smith,  who  is  to  pay  out  the  same. 

568.  Mar.  4,  '76.  John  Chatfield  of  E.  Hampton,  and  Thos. 
Cooper  of  S.  Hampton,  are  directed  to  station  persons  to  keep  look- 
out for  the  British  fleet. 

569.  Mar.  27,  '76.  Nath'l  Roe  and  Sam'l  Thompson,  certify 
the  election  of  Selah  Strong,  Capt.;  Wm.  Clark,  1st  Lt. ;  Caleb 
Brewster,  2d  Lt. ;  and  Nath'l  Brewster,  En.,  of  a  minute  company  in 
Brookhaven. 

570.  Ap.  7,  76.  Nath'l  Piatt,  Capt. ;  Sam'l  Smith,  1st.  Lt.  ; 
Henry  Skudder,  2d  Lt. ;  and  Henry  Blatsley,  En. 

571.  Account  of  Capt.  Jeremiah  Rogers,  £22  18  6,  for  keeping 
look-out  at  South  Hampton,  March  '76,  when  British  fleet  was  ex- 
pected, certified  by  Henry  Herrick,  member  of  the  Committee,  was 
exhibited  for  payment,  Jan.  28,  '77.  Jovr.  791. 

572.  Ap.  18,  '76.  Nath'l  Woodhull,  Thos.  Tredwell,  Selah 
Strong,  John  Sloss  Hobart,  Thos.  Wickham,  David  Gelston,  Dan'l 
Brown,  and  Ezra  L'Hommedieu,  were  elected  to  represent  Suffolk 


26 


REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 


Co.  in  Provincial  Congress,  as  appears  by  the  certificate  of  Wm. 
Smith,  Chairman,  and  Ezra  L'Hommedieu,  Clk.  of  the  Committee. 

673.  Capt.  John  Davis  had  enlisted  70  men  ;  and  Benj.  Marvin, 
1st  Lt.  of  Capt  Griffin's  company,  75  men,  before  Ap.  3,  '76. 

574.  In  consideration  of  the  defenceless  state  of  E.  part  of  Suf- 
folk Co.,  the  3  companies  raised  for  continental  service,  were  con- 
tinued there.     Ap.  3,  76. 

575.  Mmj  3,  '76.  Officers  of  two  companies  of  minute  men  in 
Southold,  Col.  Smith's  Reg. 

1.  Jona.  Bay  ley,  Capt. ;  Joshua  Youngs,  1st  Lt. ;  John  Tuthill, 
2d  Lt. ;  James  Reeve,  En. 

2.  Paul  Reeve,  Capt. ;  John  Corwin,  1st  Lt. ;  David  Horton,  2d 
Lt. ;  Nath'l  Hudson,  En. 

576.  May  9,  '76.     2d  N.  Y.  Reg. 

1.  Dan'l  Roe,  Capt. ;  Jona.  Titus,  1st  Lt. ;  Geo.  Smith,  2d  Lt. ; 
Benj.  Titus,  En. 

2.  Daniel  GrifFen,  Capt. ;  Benjamin  Marvin,  1st  Lt. ;  Nath'l  Nor- 
ton, 2d  Lt.  ;  Jacob  Conklin,  En. 

3.  John  Davis,  Capt. ;  Wm.  Haven,  1st  Lt. ;  Edward  Conklin, 
2d  Lt. ;  Silvanus  Conklin,  En. 


677.       Return 

of 

Col.  Smith's  Regiment,  May  30,  '76. 

Captains. 

X 

en 
'be 

in 

<n 

3 

en 

> 

Remarks. 

:^iH 

m 

J) 

3 

Q 

^ 

Ph 

David  Pierson, 

2    1 

3 

42 

Complete  in  arms. 

Ezekiel  Mulford, 

2 

3 

3 

40 

do.             do. 

Zeph.  Rogers, 

2i 

3 

3 

33 

do.             do. 

Paul  Reeve, 

2 

3 

3 

35 

do.  except  bayonets. 

Jona.  Bailey, 

2 

3 

3 

27 

do.  except  bayonets. 

Selah  Strong, 

2 

3 

3 

57 

want  15  guns  and  bayonets. 

Nalh'l  Piatt, 

2 

3 

3 

42 

complete. 

Thos.  Wicks, 

2 

3 

3 

31 

complete,  except  one  man. 

Total. 

16 

6 

24 

24 

8 

8 

307 

Drums,  fifes,  colors,  all  deficient. 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  27 

Staff  of  Minute  Regiment. 
Josiah  Smith,  Col.;  John  Hulbert,  Lt.  Col. ;  Isaac  Reeve,  Maj. ;  Isaac 
Overton,  2d  Maj. ;  Eph'm  Marvin,  Adj. ;  Eben.  Dayton,  Q.  M. 

578.  Wm.  Smith  writes  to  Congress  from  Manor  St.  George, 
May  25,  '76,  that  there  is  a  communication  from  Winthrop's  Patent? 
and  the  Ships  of  War  at  the  Hook  ;  that  one  Gyer,  a  skipper,  had 
carried  off  a  no.  of  disaffected  persons,  mostly  from  Conn.,  who  had 
been  skulking  in  the  woods,  particularly  one  Fountain,  a  gunsmith. 
It  is  suspected  the  British  also  get  water,  clams,  and  oysters.  15 
minute  men  have  been  stationed  there  since  last  Monday,  but  as  they 
are  farmers,  they  cannot  leave  home  without  ruining  their  familes  ; 
the  matter  is  referred  to  Congress. 

579.  Lt.  John  HoUiday  sends  to  Gen.  Greene,  from  Far  Rocka- 
way,  May  29,  '76,  Nathan  and  Lazarus  Gyer,  of  Blue  Point,  and 
Benj.  Scribner,  taken  in  a  clam  boat  near  against  Silas  Carman's 
Landing,  O.  Bay.  Gyer  set  7  men  ashore  at  Fort  Neck  Point,  who 
were  seen  by  Gilbert  Jones,  of  the  O.  Bay  Committee,  with  a  pros- 
pect-glass. They  were  examined,  May  26,  before  Joshua  Ketcham 
and  B.  Birdsall. 

580.  June  8,  '76.  Jona.  Baker  and  Steph.  Fountain,  convicted 
by  the  joint  committees  of  Brookhaven,  Manor  St.  George,  and  Pa- 
tentship  of  Moriches,  of  taking  up  arms  and  corresponding  v/ith  the 
British  ships,  and  promoting  discord  among  the  inhabitants  and  se- 
ducing many  to  forsake  the  cause  of  their  country,  were  brought  to 
Congress  by  Lt.  Wm.  Clarke,  and  committed  to  safe  custody. 

Jour.  484. 
July  18.     Nathan  and  Lazarus  Gyre  and  Jona.  Baker  were  sent  to 
Litchfield  jail.  Jour.  530. 

581.  Quota  of  Suffolk,  200;  of  Queens,  175;  of  Kings,  58  men, 
to  reinforce  the  Continental  army  at  N.  Y.     June  7,  '76. 

582.  The  guard-boats  Montgomerie  and  Schuyler  lay  at  Fire  I. 
Inlet,  June  19,  '76. 

583.  June  27,  '76.  Gen.  Nath.  Woodhull,  Ezra  L'Hommedieu, 
John  Sloss  Hobart,  Burnet  Miller,  Thos.  Dearing,  David  Gelston, 
Wm.  Smith,  and  Thos.  Tredwell,  Esqs.,  elected  to  the  4th  Pro.  Con- 


28  REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 

gress,  with  powers  to  establish  a  new  form  of  government,  as  appears 
by  a  certificate  of  the  committee,  signed  by  Wm.  Smith,  Chairman. 

Jour.  516. 

684.  June  29,  '76.     Officers  of  2d  Comp.,  3d  Bat.,  Militia. 
Edmund    How^ell,    1st  Lt.  ;     Selah     Reeves,    2d  Lt.  ;     Jas 
Wells,  En. 

685.  List  of  Officers  of  Col.  Smith's  Reg. 

Col.  Josiah  Smith ;  Lt.  Col.  John  Sands  ;  Maj.  Abm.  Remsen  ; 
Chaplain, ;  Adj't  Thos.  Waterman  ;  Q.  Master  Increase  Carpen- 
ter ;  Sergeant  Maj.  John  Stratton ;  Q.  Master  Serg.  Maj.  Jas.  HoUid  ; 
Surgeon, ;    Surgeon's  Mate, . 

1st  Company.  Capt.  Zeph'h  Rogers ;  1st  Lt.  Edward  Tapping;  2d 
Lt.  Paul  Jones ;  Serg'ts  Hugh  Gelston,  Tim.  Halsey,  David  Lupton  ; 
Corp's  Jehiel  Howell,  Elias  Pierson,  Jona.  Cook. 

2d  Comp.  Capt.  Nath'l  Piatt  ;*  1st  Lt.  Sam'l  Smith  ;  2d  Lt.  Henry 
Skudder  ;  Serg'ts  John  Stratton,  John  Carll,  Jesse  Bunce  ;  Corp's  Jas. 
Hubbs,  Jed'h  Mills,  John  Hart. 

3d  Comp.  Capt.  Benj.  Coe  ;    1st  Lt.  Robt.  Furman  ;   2d  Lt. ; 

Serg'ts  Wra.  Penfold,  Nathan  Furman,  Gabriel  Leveridge  ;  Corp's  Ga- 
briel Smith,  Thos.  Gillinworth,  John  Furman.  (See  Q.  Co.  p.  93.) 

Ath  Comp.  Capt.  Peter  Nostrand  ;  1st  Lt.  Thos.  Williams,  (See  Q. 
Co.,  p.  85) ;  2d  Lt.  John  Carman  ;  Serg'ts  Benj.  Cornell,  Martin  Ryer- 
son,  Abm.  Probasco  ;  Corp'l  Rem.  Hardenbergh. 

5th  Comp.  Capt.  Thos.  Wicks  ;  1st  Lt.  Brush  ;  2d  Lt.  Whitman  ; 
Serg'ts  Ketcham,  Vail,  Sammis  ;  Corp's  Rusco,  Conklin,  Kelsey. 

&th  Comp.  Capt.  R.  Manee  ;  1st  Lt.  Jotham  Townsend  ;  2d  Lt. 
Richard  Townsend  ;  Serg'ts  Wm.  Roe,  Sam'l  Burr,  Hicks  ;  Corp's 
Mitchell,  Jackson.  (See  Queens  Co.,  p.  94) 

1th  Comp.  Capt.  Selah  Strong  ;  1st  Lt.  Caleb  Brewster  ;t  2d  Lt. 
[Nath'l  ?]  Brewster  ;  Serg'ts  Woodhull,  Smith,  WoodhuU  ;  Corp's  Haw- 
kins, Marvin,  Lyons. 

Qth  Comp.  Capt.  Youngs  ;  1st  Lt.  John  Robert ;  2d  Lt.  Isaac  Hicks ; 
Serg'ts  Beasley,  King,  Conn  ;  Corp's  Racket,  Lawey  [or  Lowere],  Smith. 
(See  Q.  Co.,  p.  98.) 

9th  Comp.  Capt.  [Paul]  Reeve  ;  1st  Lt.  Curen  [Corwin  ?j  ;  2d  Lt. 
Benjamin ;  Serg'ts  Wheelock  Roe,  Rich'd  Hubbard,  Nath'l  Conklin  ; 
Corp's  Solomon,  Havens,  Wells. 

lO^A  Comp.  Capt.  Wm.  Ludlam  ;    1st  Lt.  Increase  Carpenter;  2d 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  29 

Lt.  Ephvaim  Marston ;  Serg'ts  Thurston,  Higbie ;  Corp's  Oba.  Smith, 
Noah  Smith.  (See  Q.  Co.,  p.  97.) 

nth  Comp.  Capt.  B.  Birdsall. 

l2iA  Comp.  Capt.  Ezekiel  Mulford  ;  1st  Lt.  Sayre  ;  2d  Lt.  [Nath'I] 
Hand  ;  Serg'ts  M.  Mulford,'Pierson,  Domini ;  Corp's  Henry  Sherrel, 
Benj.  Crook,  Ludlam  Parsons.! 

*  Capt.  Nath'I  Piatt,  of  Col.  Smith's  Reg't  of  militia  drafts  raised  on 
L.  L,  rec'd,  March  8, '77,  of  Congress  £Q,  for  the  last  half  bounty  paid 
Nath'I  Smith,  Matthew  Beal,  and  Thomas  Peters,  privates.  Also  £141, 
17,  6,  in  full  of  a  Pay  and  Subsistence  Roll  of  part  of  his  company  that 
joined  Col.  H.  B.  Livingston's  Reg.  Jour.  828. 

iJan.  16,  '77.  A  Pay  Roll  for  £70, 18,  9,  of  Caleb  Brewster,  Lt. 
and  Cor.  Clark,  Zophar  Hawkins,  and  Jacob  Jones,  privates  in  Capt. 
Selah  Strong's  Company,  in  Col.  Smith's  Reg.,  who  joined  Col.  Livings- 
ton's Reg.,  from  July  20  to  Dec.  29,  was  paid  by  Congress. 

Jovr.  774. 

X  Capt.  Hulbert's  account  current : 

Dr.  Pay  Roll,  Aug.  31,  1776,      £332.  17.     8. 

Amount  of  billeting,  137.  15.     2\. 

Acc't  of  supplies,  12,  12.  11. 


($72  for  enlisting  men,  (£28.   16.), 
officers'  wages  and  billeting  ) 

Cr.  cash  rec'd  of  Thomas  Wickham,  Esq., 
Balance  due, 

£482.     5.     9i. 

586.  Smith  Town,  Avg.  12,  '76. 

Sir  : — I  here  send  you  inclosed,  the  Resolution"of  the  Convention 
and  a  Letter  from  the  President ;  likewise  a  Letter  from  Gen.  Greene. 
I  desire  that  you  would  with  all  speed  embody  all  the  new  raised  Levies 
under  our  command,  at  the  most  convenient  place  that  you  think  proper 
in  your  county,  on  the  way  to  Gen.  Greene's  encampment.  Sir,  the 
companies  in  Suffolk  County  are  now  on  their  march,  and  I  expect  to 
meet  you  at  Increase  Carpenter's  to-morrow,  some  time  in  the  latter  part 
of  the  day. 

I  am.  Sir,  your  humble  servant, 

JOSIAH  SMITH,  Col. 

To  Col.  John  Sands  at  Cow  Neck. 


£483. 

5. 

9i. 

140. 

00. 

0. 

343. 

5. 

9i. 

30  REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 

In  Convention  of  the  Representatives  of  the  State  of  New- York, 
at  Harlem,  Aug.  8,  1776,  Resolved,  That  Col.  Josiah  Smith  immedi- 
ately march  all  his  new  Levies  to  the  western  part  of  Nassau  Island, 
and  within  2  miles  of  Brig.  Gen.  Greene's  encampment ;  and  that 
he  obey  such  orders  as  he  may  receive  from  time  to  time  from 
Gen.  Greene. 

Harlem,  Aug.  8,  '76. 

Sir  : — You  will  see  by  the  inclosed  resolution  that  you  are  ordered  to 
march  the  whole  force  under  your  command  within  2  miles  of  the  army 
at  the  west  end  of  L.  I,,  commanded  by  Gen.  Greene.  It  is  expected 
by  this  Convention,  that  you  order  Kings  and  Queens  Counties  first,  as 
they  are  near,  and  Suffolk  to  follow  as  soon  as  possible.  These  direc- 
tions, with  the  inclosed,  I  am  directed  to  send  you  with  dispatch,  not 
doubting  you  will  execute  them  with  the  utmost  diligence. 

From  your  friend  and  very  humble  servant. 

NATH'L  WOODHULL,  Pres't. 

Col.  Josiah  Smith. 

N.  B.  If  this  letter  finds  you  in  Queens  County  or  Kings,  you 
must  dispatch  your  orders  to  your  officers  by  express,  and  Congress  will 
pay  the  cost. 

[See  Greene's  Letter,  Sec.  93,  Queens  Co. — Ed. 

587.  Huntington,  July  23,  '76. 

Yesterday  the  Freedom  and  Independence  of  the  Thirteen  Uni- 
ted Colonies  was,  with  beat  of  drum,  proclaimed  at  the  several  places 
of  parade,  by  reading  the  Declaration  of  the  General  Congress,  to- 
gether with  the  Resolutions  of  our  Provincial  Convention  thereupon ; 
which  were  approved  and  applauded  by  the  animated  shouts  of  the 
people  who  were  present  from  all  the  distant  quarters  of  this  district. 
After  which  the  flag  which  used  to  wave  on  Liberty-pole,  having  Lib- 
erty on  one  side,  and  George  III.  on  the  other,  underwent  a  reform, 
i.  e.  the  Union  was  cut  off,  and  the  letters  George  III.  were  discarded, 
being  publicly  ripped  off;  and  then  an  effigy  of  the  Personage,  repre- 
sented by  those  letters,  being  hastily  fabricated  out  of  base  materi- 
als, with  its  face  black  like  Dunmore's  Virginia  [negro]  regiment, 
its  head  adorned  with  a  wooden  crown,  and  its  head  stuck  full  of 
feathers,  like  Carleton  and  Johnson's  Savages,  and  its  body  wrapped 
in  the  Union,  instead  of  a  blanket  or  robe  of  state,  and  lined  with 
gun-powder,  which  the  original  seems  to  be  fond  of.  The  whole,  to- 
gether with  the  letters  above  mentioned,was  hung  on  a  gallows,  ex- 
ploded and  burnt  to  ashes.    In  the  evening  the  Committee  of  this 


SUFFOLK   COUNTY.  31 

town,  with  a  large  number  of  the  principal  inhabitants  sat  around 
the  genial  board,  and  drank  13  patriotic  toasts,  among  which  were, 
The  free  and  independent  States  of  America;  The  General  Con- 
gress ;  The  Convention  of  the  1 3  States ;  Our  principal  military- 
Commanders,  and  success  and  enlargement  to  the  American  Na\'y. 
Nor  was  the  memory  of  our  late  brave  heroes,  who  have  gloriously 
lost  their  lives  in  the  cause  of  Liberty  and  their  Country  forgotten. 

HoWs  N.  Y.  Journal. 
588.  The   Committee  of    Southold  expended   £24.  17.  4.   for 
mounting  four  cannon  Aug.  19,  '76,  as  field-pieces  for  the  protec- 
tion of  the  East  End  of  L.  I. 

689.  Convention  send  an  express  on  Saturday  morning  Aug.  24, 
to  Suffolk  Co.  to  Gen.  Woodhull,  or  in  his  absence  to  Lt.  Col.  Pot- 
ter, to  march  without  delay  half  the  western  Reg.  of  Suffolk  Co. 
Militia,  with  5  days'  provisions  into  the  Western  part  of  Queens  :  to 
order  out  all  the  militia  of  Queens  with  the  horse,  to  prevent  the 
stock  and  provisions  in  Queens  from  falling  into  the  enemy's  hands? 
either  by  removing  or  destroying  them. 

Aug.  25.  Gen.  Woodhull  arrived  in  Jamaica,  whence  he  wrote 
to  the  convention  for  further  instructions,  but  the    letter  is  lost — Ed. 

690.  Huntingion,  Aug.  26,  '76. 

I  had  not  arrived  at  my  house  from  Jamaica  half  an  hour,  before 
I  received  information  by  express  from  Capt.  Thompson  of  Brook- 
haven,  that  two  ships,  one  brig  and  three  tenders  had  landed  a  num- 
ber of  regular  troops  between  Old  Man's  and  Wading  Rivers,  who 
at  one  o'clock  were  shooting  cattle.  Major  Smith  has  ordered  the 
detachment  designed  for  your  party  to  the  eastward,  and  as  our  men 
are  gone  and  the  wind  fresh  to  the  eastward,  I  well  know  they  can- 
not lay  there.  I  expect  them  in  our  bay  before  morning,  the  only 
harbor  in  the  Sound :  I  have  not  ordered  any  men  from  here  as  yet, 
but  am  mustering  them  to  make  as  good  opposition  as  possible. 
We  must  have  help  here ;  every  thing  possible  for  me  shall  be  done. 
I  think  Gen.  Washington  should  be  acquainted.  Our  women  are  in 
great  tumult.  In  great  haste.  Yours, 

GILBERT  POTTER. 
To  Brig.  Gen.  Woodhull. 

591.  Benj.  Havens,  Nath'l  Williams,  Philip  Allen,  jr.,  John 
Hendrickson  and  Nathaniel  Seaman  were  empowered  to  purchase  all 


32  REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 

fat  cattle  and  sheep  in  Queens  and  Suffolk  Go's  on  account  of  the 
Commissary  General,  and  drive  them  down  to  Gen.  Woodhull's  En- 
campment. 

592.  Westward  of  Queens  Co.,  Aug.  27,  '76. 

Gentlemen  : — Inclosed  I  send  you  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  Col.  Potter, 
who  left  me  yesterday  at  11  o'clock,  after  bringing  about  100  men  to  me 
at  Jamaica.  Major  Smith  has,  I  expect,  all  the  rest  that  was  to  come 
from  Suffolk  Co.  There  has  about  40  of  the  militia  joined  me 
from  the  Regiments  in  Queens  Co.,  and  about  fifty  of  the  troop  be- 
longing to  Kings  and  Queens  Co's,  which  is  near  all  I  expect.  I  have 
got  all  the  cattle  southward  of  the  Hills  in  Kings  Co.  drove  to  the 
eastward  of  the  cross  road  between  the  two  Co's,  and  have  placed  guards 
and  sentries  from  the  North  road  to  the  South  side  of  the  Island,  in 
order  to  prevent  the  cattle  going  back,  and  to  prevent  the  communica- 
tions of  the  Tories  with  the  enemy.  I  am  within  about  six  miles  of  the 
enemy's  camp.  Their  light-horse,  *  has  been  within  two  miles  of 
me,  and  unless  I  have  more  men  our  stay  here  will  answer  no  purpose. 
We  shall  soon  want  to  be  supplied  with  provision,  if  we  tarry  here.  I 
am,  gentlemen, 

Your  most  obedient  humble  servant 

NATH'L  WOODHULL. 

*  See  Queens  Co.,  Sec.  99,  Note.— £</. 

693.  Aug.  26.  Convention  orders  Col.  Smith's  and  Remsen's 
Reg's  to  join  Gen.  Woodhull,  and  that  he  then  take  post  on  the 
heights  near  the  west  of  Queens  Co.,  or  in  any  convenient  place, 
for  preventing  the  depredations  and  incursions  of  the  Enemy :  and 
that  he  call  out  the  militia  and  other  inhabitants  to  protect  those  re- 
moving, or  to  destroy  stock  and  other  provisions.  He  is  also  to  pre- 
vent intercourse  v\;ith  the  enemy  and  secure  suspicious  persons  and 
search  their  houses  for  papers. 

Smith's  and  Remsen's  Regiments  were  now  shut  up  in  the 
American  Lines,  so  that  no  assistance  ever  reached  Woodhull. — Ed. 

594.  Jamaica,  Aug.  27, '76. 

Gentlemen: — I  am  now  at  Jamaica,  with  less  than  100  men  ;  hav- 
ing brought  all  the  cattle  from  the  westward,  southward  of  the  hills  ;  and 
have  sent  them  off  with  the  Troops  of  Horse,  with  orders  to  take  all 
the  rest  Eastward  of  this  place  to  the  East  end  of  Hempstead  Plains,and 
to  put  them  into  the  fields  and  set  a  guard  over  them.  The  enemy,  I 
am  informed,  are  intrenching  from  the  Heights  near  Howard's,  South- 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  33 

ward.*  I  have  now  received  yours,  with  several  resolutions,  which  I 
wish  it  was  in  my  power  to  put  in  execution,  but,  unless  Col's  Smith 
and  Remsen,  mentioned  in  yours,  join  me  with  their  Regiments,  or  some 
other  assistance  immediately,  I  shall  not  be  able,  for  the  people  are  all 
moving  East,  and  I  cannot  get  any  assistance  from  them.  I  shall  con- 
tinue here  as  long  as  I  can,  in  hopes  of  a  reinforcement ;  but  if  none 
comes  soon,  I  shall  retreat  and  drive  the  stock  before  me,  into  the 
woods.  Col's  Smith  and  Remsen,  I  think  cannot  join  me.  Unless  you 
can  send  me  some  other  assistance,  I  fear  I  shall  soon  be  obliged  to  quit 
this  place.  I  hope  soon  to  hear  from  you.  I  am,  gentlemen. 
Your  most  obedient,humble  servant, 

NATH'L  WOODHULL. 

To  the  Hon.  Convention  of  the  State  of  N.  Y.  at  Harlem. 

*  A  mistake  of  course.  This  letter  appears  to  have  been  received 
and  acted  upon  by  the  Convention  before  the  preceding  one,  at  least  it 
is  so  entered  in  the  Journal. — Ed. 

595.  The  battle  of  Brooklyn  had  now  been  fought  (for  an  account  of 
which,  see  Kings  Co.)  and  the  enemy  had  so  completely  surprised 
the  American  scouts,  on  the  morning  of  Aug.  27,  that  not  one  prob- 
ably had  escaped  to  apprize  Woodhull  of  the -loss  of  our  outposts, 
and  warn  him  to  flee  frftm  impending  danger,  for  we  find  him  the  day 
after  the  defeat  yet  at  Jamaica,  writing  a  letter  to  the  Convention  and 
waiting  for  a  reply,  when  it  behooved  him  to  withdraw  speedily  and 
at  once  from  his  perilous  proximity. — Ed. 

596.  Major  Lawrence,  who  came  on  a  message  from  Woodhull, 
informs  Convention  the  morning  of  Aug.  28,  that  Dr.  Ab'm  Riker 
told  him  that  a  number  of  scattering  troops  [British]  had  posted 
themselves,  Aug.  27,  on  the  ridge  of  hills  between  Newtown  and  Ja- 
maica; that  they  had  been  in  many  of  the  houses  ;  had  taken 
victuals  and  drink  but  had  not  plundered  as  he  understood. 

Convention,  Aug.  28,  order  Maj.  Lawrence  to  wait  on  Gen.  Wash- 
ton  with  a  copy  of  WoodhuU's  letter,  and  inform  him  how  Smith 
and  Rcmsen's  Regiments  may  be  sent  to  Woodhull  by  way  of 
Flushing. 

Washington  declined  sending  the  Regiments  as  he  could  not 
spare  them. — Ed. 

Convention  also  order  Mr.  Van  Wyck  to  repair  immediately  to 
Flushing  to  gain  intelligence  of  the  situation  of  the  enemy  and  what 
places  are  occupied  by  Woodhull,  and  that  he  dispatch  a  boat  with 


34  REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 

all  possible  expedition  with  the  information,  at  the  same  time  point- 
ing out  the  most  suitable  place  for  Woodhull's  reinforcement  to  land. 

Flushing,  Aug.  28,  '76. 
Gentlemen: — I  am  informed  by  Thos.  Thorne,  a  member  of  Com- 
mittee, who  just  came  from  Gen.  WoodhuU,  that  he  was  at  Jamaica  ; 
and  that  he  [Thorne]  just  came  from  White  Stone  ;  that  the  ships  of 
war  lay  between  Thorn's  Point  and  Great  Neck  ;  that  there  can  be  no 
danger  of  bringing  up  our  men  to  this  place,  if  [we]  can  get  them  up 
this  evening.  I  think  it  will  be  proper  to  send  this  intelligence  off  as 
soon  as  possible  by  the  same  boat,  as  I  cannot  get  any  other.  I  am 
just  going  to  Jamaica  to  the  General. 

I  am.  Gentlemen,  your  most  obt. 

Humble  servant, 

COR'S  VAN  WYCK. 
To  the  Fro.  Congress. 

[Whether  Van  Wyck  ever  reached  Woodhull  or  not,  it  is  impos- 
sible to  tell.  Perhaps  he  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  light-horse,  who, 
in  companies  of  8  or  10,  were  pillaging  at  Flushing. — Ed.] 

Jamaica,  Aug.  28,  '76. 
597.  Gentlemen  : — I  wrote  2  letters  to  ywu  yesterday,  one  by  ex- 
press, and  another  by  Mr.  Harper  ;*  and  also  sent  my  Brigade-major  to 
you  to  let  you  know  my  situation,  and  I  expected  an  answer  to  some  of 
them  last  night :  but  my  express  informed  me  he  was  detained  till  last 
night  for  an  answer.  I  have  now  rec'd  yours  of  the  26th,  which  is  only 
a  copy  of  the  last,  without  a  single  word  of  answer  to  my  letters,  or  the 
message  by  my  brigade-major.  I  must  again  let  you  know  my  situa- 
tion. I  have  about  70  men,  and  about  20  of  the  troop,  which  is  ail  the 
force  I  have  or  can  expect,  and  I  am  daily  growing  less  in  number.  The 
people  are  so  alarmed  in  Suffolk,  that  they  will  not  any  more  of  them 
march  :  and  as  to  Col's  Smith  and  Remsen's  regiments,  they  cannot  join 
me,  for  the  communication  is  cut  off  between  us.  I  have  sent  about  1 100 
cattle  to  the  great  fields  on  the  plains  yesterday,  about  300  more  gone 
off  this  morning  to  the  same  place  ;  and  I  have  ordered  a  guard  of  an 
officer  and  7  privates.  They  can  get  no  water  in  those  fields.  My  men 
and  horses  are  worn  out  with  fatigue.  The  cattle  are  not  all  gone  off 
toward  Hempstead  ;  I  ordered  them  yesterday,  but  they  were  not  able 
to  take  them  along.  I  brought  yesterday  about  300  from  Newtown.  I 
think  the  cattle  are  in  as  much  danger  on  the  north  as  on  the  south  side, 
and  have  ordered  the  inhabitants  to  remove  them.     If  you  cannot  send 


SUFFOLK   COUNTY.  35 

me  an  immediate  reinforcement,  I  am  afraid  I  shall  have  no  men  with 
me  by  to-morrow  night ;  for  they  consider  themselves  in  an  enemy's 
country.  And  if  I  can  have  no  reinforcement,  I  beg  you  will  send  very 
particular  directions  what  I  shall  do  with  the  stock,  whether  I  shall  kill 
them,  or  leave  them,  for  I  shall  not  be  able  to  get  them  all  together  and 
tend  them  [even]  if  the  men  I  have  will  all  stay  with  me.  I  beg  you 
would  immediately  send  at  least  2  members  as  a  committee  that  I  may 
have  their  advice :  for  unless  you  do,  I  must  quit,  for  I  hope  the  Con- 
vention does  not  expect  me  to  make  brick  with[out]  straw. 

I  am,  Gentlemen, 
Your  most  ob't, 

NATH'L  WOODHULL. 
[*  Robert  Harper  had  just  carried  £200  to  the  Committee  of  Flush- 
ing, and  was  on  his  return  to  the  Convention. — Ed.] 

[The  above  is  the  last  letter  ever  written  by  the  General — writ- 
ten probably  only  a  few  hours  before  his  capture  ;  and  it  was  while 
waiting  for  a  reply  that  he  was  overtaken  by  the  enemy.  In  com- 
pliance with  his  request,  the  Convention  ordered,  Aug.  28,  that 
Judge  Hobart  and  Jas.  Townsend  be  a  Committee  to  repair  to  Gen. 
Woodhull,  to  assist  him  with  their  advice,  and  that  they  impress 
boats  and  persons  to  convey  themselves  to  the  General  with  the  ut- 
most dispatch ;  and  that  they  and  the  General  be  instructed  to  cause 
all  such  stock  and  grain  in  Queens  and  the  western  part  of  Suffolk, 
as  may  be  in  danger  of  falling  into  the  enemy's  hands  and  cannot  be 
removed,  to  be  destroyed.]  Jour.  696. 

[Messrs.  Townsend  and  Hobart,  on  arriving  in  Queens  Co., 
heard  of  Woodhull's  capture,  when  they  hastened  on  to  Hunting- 
ton.—EJ.] 

Avg.  29.  Convention  yet  in  ignorance  of  Woodhull's  fate,  or- 
der Sam'l  Townsend,  a  member  of  their  body,  to  be  sent  as  a  mes- 
senger to  him  (fearing  a  letter  might  fall  into  the  enemies'  hands)  to 
give  an  account  of  their  proceedings  upon  the  subject  of  his  letters, 
and  of  Washington's  letter  declining  to  send  Cols.  Smith  and  Rem- 
sen.     [Townsend  probably  did  not  set  out. — Ed.]  Jour.  599. 

598.  [What  part,  if  any,  the  L.  I.  regiments  bore  in  the  battle  of 
Brooklyn,  I  am  not  able  to  say.  They  were  hemmed  in  the  Lines, 
and  perhaps  acted  as  inner  guards.  Col.  Smith  joined  in  the  retreat 
to  New-York,  as  appears  by  the  following  letter. — Ed.] 


36  REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 

Camp  at  Brooklyn,  Aug.  29,  '76. 
To  the  President  of  the  Convention. — I  just  now  received  orders  from 
the  General  to  march  my  Reg.  over  to  N.  Y.,  and  there  to  receive  or- 
ders from  the  Convention  of  N.  Y.,  which  I  desire  you  to  send  me  by 
the  bearer,  Col,  Phinehas  Fanning. 

JOSIAH  SMITH,  Col. 

[Convention  order  Col.  Smith's  Reg.  to  Hoom's  Hook,  but  it 
was  soon  disbanded,  "  the  Col.  giving  leave  for  every  man  to  shift 
for  himself  in  getting  their  families  and  effects  off  L.  I." — Ed.] 

[The  death  of  Gen.  Woodhull  has  not  been  described  in  any  his- 
tory of  the  Revolution,  and  as  the  accounts  both  written  and  traditional 
are  conflicting,  we  insert  all  the  notices  of  his  capture  and  death  we 
have  met  with,  and  leave  the  reader  to  form  his  own  opinion. — Ed.] 

599.  Death  of  Gen.  Woodhull,  from  Wood's  L.  L,  pages  88,89. 
Ed.  of  1826. 

Before  General  Woodhull  had  reached  the  outposts  of  the  Ame- 
rican army,*  he  discovered  that  the  British  had  possession  of  the 
country  between  him  and  the  left  wing  of  the  American  army,  and 
that  any  farther  advance  would  only  expose  his  troops,  without  ef- 
fecting any  good  purpose,  and  therefore  ordered  a  retreat.  The 
Gen.  remained  in  the  rear  and  retreated  slowly  with  only  one  or  two 
companions,  waiting,  as  is  said,  for  the  return  of  his  Brigade  Major 
[Lawrence] .  A  severe  thunder  shower,  as  is  supposed,  obliged  him 
to  take  refuge  in  a  public  house  about  2  miles  east  of  Jamaica  [vil- 
lage], and  before  he  left  the  house  he  was  overtaken  by  a  detach- 
ment of  the  17th  Reg.  of  British  Dragoons,  and  71st  Reg.  of  British 
Infantryf  [Highlanders],  who  had  been  dispatched  in  pursuit  of  the 
militia  under  his  command,  accompanied  by  some  disaffected  inhabi- 
tants [of  Jamaica]  as  guides.  The  Gen.  stept  to  the  door|  in  order 
to  give  them  his  sword.  The  ruffian  who  first  approached  him,  said 
to  be  a  Major  Baird^  of  the  71st,  as  is  reported,  ordered  him  to  say 
"  God  save  the  King."  The  General  replied,  "  God  save  us  all,"  on 
which  he  most  cowardly  and  cruelly  assailed  the  defenceless  General 
with  his  broadsword,  and  would  have  killed  him  on  the  spot,  if  he 
had  not  been  prevented  by  the  interference  of  an  officer  of  more 
honor  and  humanity,  said  to  be  Major  Delancyll  of  the  Dragoons, 
who  arrested  his  savage  violence.     The  Gen.  was  badly  wounded  in 


SUFFOLK   COUNTY.  37 

the  head,  and  one  or  both  arms  was  mangled  from  the  shoulder  to 
the  wrist.     *  *    *  *  * 

II  is  said  that  one  of  the  battalions  employed  in  this  inglorious 
warfare  against  an  unresisting  individual,  or  some  other  one,  was  com- 
manded by  a  Major  Crewe,ir  a  distant  kinsman  of  the  Gen.,  and  that 
when  he  came  to  be  apprized  of  that  fact  and  of  the  circumstances 
of  the  case,  he  was  so  mortified,  that  he  either  resigned  his  commis- 
sion and  quit  the  service,  «r  obtained  permission  to  leave  the  army, 
and  returned  to  England. 

[*  It  is  now  demonstrated  by  documents  that  Gen.  W.  was  not  or- 
dered to  join  the  A.  army  at  all,  but  to  drive  off  tlie  stock  towards  the 
east.j 

[t  Could  foot  soldiers  have  kept  up  with  dragoons  in  their  hot  pur- 
suit of  the  General?  Besides,  the  71st  Reg.  was  engaged  in  battle  at 
Gowanus,  Aug.  27.] 

[t  The  accounts  vary  of  the  precise  manner  of  the  General's  capture 
whether  mounting  his  horse,  stepping  to  the  door,  taken  in  the  dark  in* 
the  barn,  or  after  an  ineffectual    attempt  at  concealment,  or  on  the 
piazza.] 

[§  In  '76  there  was  a  Capt.  (not  Major)  Sir  Jas.  Baird  of  the  71at 
Reg.] 

[II  See  Queens  Co.,  Sec.  112.] 

[IT  Major  Crewe  (17th  Dragoons),  if  he  ever  did  resign,  was  very 
slow  about  it,  for  we  find  his  name  in  the  army  list  in  '78.] 

[I  have  italicised  the  words  implying  doubt  or  uncertainty  in  the 
above  account.  They  occur  nine  times !  In  his  first  edition,  1824, 
Wood  says,  "  WoodhuU  was  suffered  by  the  officers  to  be  so  cut  and- 
mangled,  that  he  died  of  his  wounds  a  few  days  after  his  capture." 
—Ed.] 

A  New  Haven  paper  of  Sep,  4,  says,  "  Woodhull,  late  President 
of  the  New-York  Congress,  for  refusing  to  give  up  his  side  arms, 
was  wounded  on  the  head  with  a  cutlass  and  had  a  bayonet  thrust 
through  his  arm." 

[Tlie  mention  of  cutlass  and  bayonet  would  indicate  that  both 
horse  and  foot  were  present  at  Woodhull's  capture. — Ed.] 

Col.  Livingston  says,  Southold,  Aug.  31,  "  Woodhull  w^as  taken 
prisoner  Wed.  last,  Aug.  28,  and  cruelly  treated  by  the  horse.  Af- 
ter he  was  taken  he  received  a  wound  in  his  head  and  much  uncivil 
language,  and  was  finally  committed  close  prisoner  to  Jamaica  jail." 
3 


38  KEVOLIJTIONARY    SPIRIT. 

[*  Does  this  refer  to  his  being  ordered  to  say  "  God  save  the  king  l'^ 

Wm.  Warne,  who  left  Long  Island  Sep.  5th,  '76,  reports  at 
Fishkill,  Sep.  7th,  that  "  one  of  the  Light  Horsemen  told  he  had 
taken  Gen.  Woodhull  in  the  dark  in  Increase  Carpenter's  barn  ; 
that  before  he  would  answer  when  he  spoke  to  the  General,  he  had 
cut  him  on  the  head  and  both  arms."  Jour.  617,  619. 

"  Sundry  prisoners  taken  on  L.  I.  Aug.  27,  were,  in  an  inhuman 
and  barbarous  manner,  murdered  after  they  had  surrendered  their 
arms ;  particularly  a  General  Woodhull,  of  the  Militia,  who  was 
hacked  to  pieces  with  cutlasses,  when  alive,  by  the  light  horsemen." 
— Ethan  Allen's  Life,  written  March  '79. 

[That  the  light  horse  were  sent  expressly  to  capture  Woodhull's  party, 
and  prevent  his  driving  off  the  live  stock,  which  they  so  much  needed, 
is  highly  probable  in  itself,  and  is  confirmed  by  all  tradition.  Wia. 
Howard,  aged  86,  says :  "  On  the  night  before  the  battle,  the  light  horse 
(who  acted  as  scouts  to  the  enemy),  heard  where  Woodhull's  party  lay, 
and  started  in  quest  of  him  ;  but  on  hearing  an  exaggerated  account  of 
his  force,  they  returned."  The  day  after  the  battle,  they  set  out  again 
after  him,  and  entered  Jamaica  village  at  tea-time,  inquiring  for  Wood- 
hull.  They  surrounded  the  house  of  Robert  Hinchman,  a  noted  Whig, 
who  ran  out  of  the  back  door,  but  was  stopped  by  the  soldiers  who  had 
already  surrounded  the  house,  expecting  perhaps  to  find  Woodhull  there. 
Hinchman  was  next  seen  in  front  of  his  house  on  his  knees  with  hands 
uplifted  and  the  enemy  flourishing  their  swords  over  his  head.  His  life 
was  spared,  but  he  was  put  in  jail  that  night  and  next  day  sent  west- 
ward. 

The  light  horse  rode  on  east  till  they  came  to  Carpenter's  inn, 
where  they  saw  two  horses  (as  Mrs.  Hinchman  used  to  tell  the  story), 
and  supposed  the  riders  must  be  near.  After  searching  a  while  to  no 
purpose,  they  fired  their  pistols  into  the  thatched  roof  of  the  barn,  but 
as  the  straw  was  wet  it  would  not  kindle.  They  then  broke  open  the 
doors  and  felt  in  the  hay  with  their  swords  till  they  pricked  the  heel  of 
Wm.  Everett's  boot.  On  his  putting  forth  his  head  to  surrender,  he 
was  cut  at  by  a  soldier  till  an  officer  stopped  him.  Gen.  Woodhull  was 
brought  wounded  the  same  evening  into  the  back  room  of  her  house 
and  laid  on  a  bed,  his  arm  hacked,  as  a  butcher  would  a  shin  of  beef. 
He  begged  Mrs.  H.  not  to  leave  him  alone,  and  that  her  son  might 
sit   up  with  him  that  night.    "  Don't  be  uneasy.  General,"  said  the  kind 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  39 

hostess,  "  I  don't  expect  to  go  to  bed  to-night."  (In  Knapp's  Life  of 
Woodhull,  it  is  said  "he  was  confined  in  the  stone  church,  exposed 
in  his  blood-stained  garments,  to  the  gaze  of  all.")  The  next  morning 
the  enemy  would  have  made  Woodhull  walk  with  other  prisoners  to  the 
British  army,  but  he  was  too  faint.  Whithead  Hicks  had  previously 
offered  his  carriage  for  the  use  of  the  wounded  General,  but  the  kind 
offer  was  rejected,  incredible  as  it  may  seem,  by  Sir  Wm.  Erskine !  At 
last,  as  David  Lamberson,  also  a  prisoner,  was  too  unwell  to  walk,  they 
made  him  take  his  own  chair  and  Woodhull  with  him  in  it.  The  Gen- 
eral, with  other  prisoners,  was  probably  first  taken  to  Howe's  head-quar- 
ters near  Brooklyn,  to  be  registered.  We  know  nothing  of  the  place 
or  manner  of  his  confinement  till  about  a  fortnight  after,  when  he  was 
brought  on  board  a  prison-ship  off  New  Utrecht. 

How  diflierent  was  WoodhuU's  treatment  from  that  of  Gen.  Sullivan 
and  Lord  Sterling,  taken  prisoners  the  day  before,  who  were  kindly  en- 
tertained and  soon  exchanged.  Was  it  because  they  were  of  the  Regu- 
lar or  Continental  army,  while  Woodhull,  though  President  of  the  N. 
Y.  Convention,  was  but  a  general  of  militia  1 — Ed.] 

Robert  Troup,  Esq.,  a  Lieutenant  in  Col.  Lasher's  battalion  of 
New-York  militia,  was  made  prisoner  by  a  British  scouting  party, 
about  three  o'clock,  A.  M.,  Aug.  27,  five  miles  west  of  Jamaica. 
After  a  week's  confinement  at  Flatbush,  he  with  seventy  or  eighty 
officers,  was  put  on  board  a  small  vessel  or  transport,  lying  between 
Gravesend  and  the  Hook,  which  had  been  employed  in  bringing 
cattle  from  England.  After  Troup's  release,  he  made  oath  of  the 
treatment  he  had  received  ;  and  at  the  close  of  it  he  adds  : — 

"  That  while  he  was  confined  on  board  the  said  transport,  Brigadier 
General  Woodhull  was  also  brought  on  board,  in  a  shocking  mangled 
condition  :  that  deponent  asked  the  General  the  particulars  of  his  cap- 
ture, and  was  told  by  the  said  General  that  he  had  been  taken  by  a  party 
of  light-horse,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Oliver  De  Lancey :  that 
he  was  asked  by  the  said  Captain  if  he  would  surrender  ;  that  he  an- 
swered in  the  affirmative,  provided,  he  would  treat  him  like  a  gentle- 
man, which  Captain  De  Lancey  assured  him  he  would  ;  whereupon  the 
General  delivered  his  sword,  and  that  immediately  after  the  said  Oliver 
De  Lancey,  junior,  struck  him,  and  others  of  the  said  party  imitating  his 
example,  did  cruelly  cut  and  hack  him  in  the  manner  he  then  was; 
that,  although  he  was  in  such  a  mangled  and  horrible  situation,  he  had, 
nevertheless,  been  obliged  to  sleep  on  the  bare  floor  of  the  said  trans- 


40  REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 

port,  if  a  lieutenant  of  the  man-of-war  who  guarded  the  transport  had 
not  lent  him  a  mattress  :  that  General  WoodhuU  was  afterwards  car- 
ried to  the  hospital  in  the  church  of  New  Utrecht,  where  he  perished,  as 
deponent  was  on  good  authority  informed,  tiirough  want  of  care,  and 
other  necessaries  :  and  further  this  deponent  saith  not. 

"  Robert  Troup. 
"  Sworn  the  17th  of  January,  1777,  before  me, 

-     "  Gouv.  MoRRis." 

What  Troup  heard  of  WoodhnU's  perishing  through  want  of  care 
and  other  necessaries,  is  confirmed  by  the  following  extract  of  a  let- 
ter from  Dr.  Silas  Holmes,  of  Norwich,  a  prisoner  and  assistant 
surgeon  in  the  British  Hospital,  who  himself  attended  Woodhull. 
He  says : — 

"  The  wounded  prisoners  taken  at  the  battle  of  Brooklyn  were  put 
in  the  churches  of  Flatbush  and  New  Utrecht,  but  being  neglected  and 
unattended,  were  wallowing  in  their  own  fiUh,  and  breathed  an  in- 
fected and  putrid  air.  Ten  days  after  the  battle.  Dr.  Richard  Bailey 
was  appointed  to  superintend  the  sick.  He  was  humane,  and  dressed 
the  wounded  daily,  got  a  sack-bed,  sheet  and  blanket  for  each  prisoner, 
and  distributed  the  patients  into  the  adjacent  barns.  When  Mrs. 
Woodhull  offered  to  pay  Dr.  Bailey  for  his  care  and  attention  to  her 
husband,  he  replied,  he  had  done  no  more  than  his  duty,  and  if  there 
was  any  thing  due,  it  was  to  me." 

What  a  pity  Woodhull  had  not  fallen  into  the  hands  of  this  good 
Samaritan  in  the  earlier  stages  of  his  illness !  His  wounds,  neglected 
for  nine  days  in  the  hot  months  of  August  and  September,  had  assumed 
such  a  malignant  form,  that  not  even  the  medical  skill  of  Dr.  Bailey 
could  avail  to  save  his  valuable  life. 

Proceedings  of  the  N.  Y.  Convention  in  helialf  of  Gen.  Woodhull, 
Sep.  18,  '76. 
"  Whereas  tliis  Convention,  after  many  anxious  inquiries,  hath  at 
length  received  certain  intelligence  that  the  Hon.  Nath'l  Woodhull, 
Brig.  Gen.  of  the  militia,  and  President  of  the  Convention  of  this  State, 
is  at  present  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and  that  he  was  made  captive 
whilst  actually  employed  in  executing  the  Resolutions  of  this  House. 
And  Whcrea!>  tiiey  are  loudly  called  upon  not  only  by  the  sacred 
voice  of  lionor  and  public  duty,  but  likewise  by  the  sympathizing 
principles  of  personal  affection  and  respect,  to  exert  themselves  in 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  41 

restoring  so  valuable  a  person  to  that  liberty  which  he  has  hmiself 
lost  in  endeavoring  to  secure  to  others  that  inestimable  blessing ; 
Therefore,  Resolved,  that  a  list  of  the  prisoners  at  the  disposal  of  this 
State  be  immediately  made  out,  and  transmitted  to  Gen.  Washington, 
and  that  John  Sloss  Hobart,  Esq.  wait  on  his  Excellency  with  the 
earnest  request  of  this  Convention ,  that  he  will  be  pleased  to  give 
his  assistance  and  advice  in  negotiating  his  exchange." 

Hobart  thus  writes  from  Fairfield,  Oct.  7,  '76 : 

Gentlemen : — I  wrote  to  Convention  from  Camp  at  Kingsbridge, 
giving  an  account  of  the  progress  I  had  made  in  negotiating  the  ex- 
change of  Gen.  Woodhull,  since  which  I  have  received  the  melancholy 
intelligence  of  his  death.  The  wound  in  his  arm  mortified,  and  the 
arm  was  taken  oft',  but  the  mortification  still  continued,  and  in  a  few 
days  put  an  end  to  that  useful  life.  He  was  attended  in  his  dying  mo- 
ments by  his  lady,  who  was  permitted  to  remove  the  corpse  to  his  seat, 
where  it  was  interred  about  the  23d  ult.  These  particulars  I  have  from 
Capt.  Benajah  Strang,  of  Islip,  by  whose  door  the  procession  passed  on 
its  way  to  St.  George's.  Cor.  346. 

[The  ballad  on  Woodhull's  death  (Thompson,  II.  423,)  was  first 
published  in  the  N.  Y.  Nat.  Advocate,  Feb.  28,  1821,  and  thence 
copied  into  the  L.  I.  papers.  It  was  probably  written  (with  poetic 
license)  by  some  person  of  leisure,  who  in  his  rides  from  the  city 
called  at  Carpenter's  Inn,  and  heard  the  story  from  the  Landlady. 
A  tragedy  has  also  been  written  on  the  same  subject,  by  Mr.  Lester, 
1849.  The  Life  of  Woodhull  may  be  found  in  Thompson,  and  also 
in  Knapp's  Biography.    See  Queens  Co.,  Sec.  Ill,  112. — Ed.] 

[The  original  Journal  of  Col.  Woodhull,  3d,  N.  Y.  Reg.,  kept  during 
the  expedition  of  Gen.  Amherst,  against  Montreal,  in  1760,  is  now  in 
possession  of  his  descendants  at  Mastic. — Ed.] 


PART  II. 

SUBMISSION    OF    SUFFOLK    COUNTY. 

600.  [The  consternation  of  the  inhabitants  of  Suffolk,  at 
hearing  the  news  of  the  disastrous  battle  of  Brooklyn  and  the 
subsequent  abandonment  of  the  Island  to  the  enemy,  may  be 
better  understood  from  the  following  documents  than  any  de- 
scription I  can  give. — Ed.] 

Hobart  and  Townsendwho  had  been  sent  by  the  Convention 
to  advise  with  Woodhull,  write  as  follows,  from  Hunting- 
ton, Aug.  30: — 

"  To  our  unspeakable  mortification  we  found,  when  we  arrived  in 
Queens  Co.,  that  the  militia  had  dispersed,  and  Gen.  Woodhull  had 
fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  We  then  proceeded  with  all 
dispatch  to  this  town,  as  the  only  place  where  we  could  have  any 
prospect  of  making  an  effectual  stand,  as  the  enemy  were  in  full  pos- 
session of  the  western  parts  of  Queens  Co.,  as  far  as  Jamaica,  and 
the  Disaffected  from  the  east  were  gone  in  to  them.  We  have  order- 
ed the  militia  of  Suffolk  to  rendezvous  here,  and  written  to  Col.  Mul- 
fordof  E.  Hampton,  to  come  up  and  take  command,  and  have  borrow- 
ed £320  from  the  Treasurer  of  Q.  Co. — Aug.  31.  Our  express  not 
being  able  to  cross  at  Sand's  Point,  has  returned.  A  no.  of  militia 
of  this  town,  are  now  under  arms,  but  they  complain  their  officers 
have  left  them.  We  have  exerted  ourselves  to  recover  the  people 
from  the  consternation  into  which  they  were  thrown  by  the  precipi- 
tate retreat  of  WoodhuU's  party.  A  party  of  Kings  Co.  horse  have 
crossed  the  sound  from  this  place,  leaving  their  horses  to  follow  in 
the  next  boat.  Wc  stopped  the  horses  and  sent  for  the  men  back 
[they  did  not  return. — Ed.].  We  purpose  after  the  party  who  were 
with  Gen.  Woodhull  are  rallied,  to  form  the  rest  into  companies.  As 


SUFFOLK   COUNTY.  43 

to  field  officers  we  shall  be  at  a  loss,  as  Col.  Floyd  is  at  Congress,  Lt. 
Col.  Potter  is  gone  off,  1st  Major  Smith  resigned:  2d  Major  Brush 
is  with  us  and  begins  to  be  in  spirits.  Cor.  291. 

Narrative  of  the  proceedings  of  the  officers  and  men  of  part  of 
\st  Reg.  of  Suffolk  Co.,  Aug.  30,  at  Brookhaven  and 
Smiihtown,  hy  ElenW  Dayton,  Q.  M. 

Aug.  29.  Maj.  Jeffery  Smith  sent  orders  to  Adjutant  Philip  Roe, 
to  order  the  4  companies  in  Brookhaven  to  march  immediately  to 
Piatt  Carlls'  in  Huntington.  He  did  so,  and  there  appeared  a  high 
spirit  among  the  men.  By  the  middle  of  next  day  3  companies 
arrived  to  Epenetus  Smith's,  Smithtown,  and  the  other,  Capt.  Nich. 
Roe's,  was  coming  up.  It  was  reported  at  Smith's  that  the  IMajor 
was  gone  to  Huntington  to  see  Messrs.  Hobart  and  Townsend,  and 
desired  the  companies  to  wait  till  his  return,  which  was  not  till  dark. 
Meanwhile  the  militia  were  uneasy  and  eager  to  march  to  Hempstead 
Plains,  to  bring  off  the  stock  and  make  a  stand  in  the  woods  E.  of 
the  Plains.  At  dusk  the  Major  returned  and  called  the  officers  into 
a  room,  and  told  them  he  thought  "  it  dangerous  to  march  farther 
West,  as  their  forces  would  not  be  sufficient  to  oppose  the  enemy, 
and  he  very  much  gave  up  the  Island  ;  they  must  fall  in  the  enemy's 
hands,  it  would  not  be  good  policy  to  incense  a  cruel  enemy  by  being 
taken  in  arms ;  if  they  remained  quietly  at  home,  they  would  fare 
better,  and  that  he  should  resign  his  commission ;  Col.  Potter  was 
gone  off  and  left  him  alone,  and  Maj.  Brush  had  judged  it  unsafe  to 
proceed  against  the  enemy,  unless  reinforced.  Capt.  Thompson  said 
he  would  give  orders,  for  his  company  to  return  home  immediately." 
Major  S.  said  he  would  give  no  orders  as  he  designed  to  decline  his 
commission  (but  advised  them  to  wait  till  they  could  have  orders 
from  Hobart  and  Townsend)  ;  whereupon  the  milita  repaired  to 
their  homes.  Cor.  292. 

Sam'l  Buell  writes  from  Sag  Harbor,  Aug.  30,  '76,  that  he  has  just 
received  direct  intelligence  from  the  West  end  of  the  Island,  that  the 
ministerial  army  are  on  this  side  our  army.  The  enemy  have  200  horse 
whose  riders  were  to  dine,  Aug.  28,  at  Hempstead.  The  Hessians 
fight  terribly.  I  am  with  Col.  Livingston.  Will  you  throw  over  a  num- 
ber of  Troops  1  Trumbull,  V.  444. 

H.  B.  Livingston  writes  from  Sag  Harbor,  Aug.  30,  '76,  that  he 


44  SUBMISSION    OF 

has  command  of  a  detachment  of  200  troops  by  order  of  Washington, 
to  protect  inhabitants  and  stock.  This  force  is  insufficient  and  in 
danger.  "Send  over  forces  in  the  night, that  they  may  not  be  seen  by 
the  British  ships  in  the  Sound." 

Robt.  Hempstead,  Ch'n  of  a  Committee  meeting,  at  Southhold* 
Aug.  31,  '76,  writes  that  they  have  received  several  expresses  from  the 
middle  of  the  Island,  that  the  enemy's  scouting  party  of  about  300  horse 
and  400  foot  with  a  no.  of  tory  recruits,  are  about  penetrating  into  Suf- 
folk Co.,  as  they  have  already  marched  as  far  as  the  West  part  of 
Hempstead  Plains,  where  they  took  Gen.  WoodhuU  prisoner.  "  Will 
you  aid  us  with  men  and  ammunition,  as  our  men  are  chiefly  drawn  off 
— not  able  to  raise  over  750  men  in  the  whole  Co. — If  you  send  men,  send 
provisions  also,  except  fresh." 

Maltby  Gelston,  Ch'n  of  the  Committee  of  S.  andE.  Hampton,  met 
at  Bridge  Hampton,  Aug.  31,  '76,  writes  to  the  same  effect. 

Buell  writes  from  Sag  Harbor,  Aug.  31,  that  Gen  WoodhuU  is  fallen 
into  the  hands  of  the  King's  troops.  Tw^o  days  ago  they  drove  1500 
head  of  cattle  from  Hempstead  Plains  to  their  army.  They  are  about 
to  enter  Suffolk  with  300  horse  and  a  company  of  foot.  3  Companies 
of  90  men  each  are  stationed  here  with  one-third  of  our  militia,  who 
are  ordered  to  march  immediately  up  the  Island.  They  are  fortify- 
ing 15  miles  hence,  where  the  Island  is  but  15  rods  wide,  where  200 
men  can  oppose  2,000.     Half  our  militia  is  away. 

H.  B.  Livingston,  at  Camp,  River  Head,  Sep.  1, '76,  writes  that 
Hobart  has  brought  a  letter  from  Huntington. 

H.  B.  Livingston,  Saybrook  Harbor,  Sep.  4,  '76,  writes  that  on  Sat.  last 
he  marched  to  River  Head,  within  about  50  miles  of  the  British  Light 
Horse,  with  his  detachment  of  200  men,  and  the  Suffolk  militia,  but 
when  the  militia  heard  the  Island  was  given  up,  they  proposed  to  sub- 
mit and  fled  to  their  homes.  He  retreated  to  Cont.,  having  disarmed 
70  of  the  inhabitants  and  brought  off"  4  cannon  with  baggage  and  some 
provisions. 

To  the  Irihalntants  of  Suffolk  County. 
601.  His  Excellency  Gen.  Howe  having  appointed  me  Com- 
manding ojfficer  for  the  eastern  part  of  this  Island,  I  do  hereby  strictly 
enjoin  and  order  all  persons  whatsoever  in  your  County  of  SuflTolk, 
upon  your  peril,  to  use  your  utmost  elTorts  to  preserve  the  peace  of 
said  county  ;  that  all  Committce-irien  and  others  acting  under  the 
authority  of  the  Rebels,  inmicdiately  do  cease  and  remain  at  their  re- 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  45 

spective  homos,  that  eveiy  man  in  arms  lay  them  down  forthwith  and 
surrender  themselves  on  pain  of  being  treated  as  rebels  :  and  I  here- 
by exhort  all  persons  to  be  aiding  and  assisting  His  Majesty's  Forces 
by  furnishing  them  with  whatever  lays  in  their  power.  In  particu- 
lar that  they  bring  in  their  cattle  (except  milch  cows  and  calves)  for 
their  supply,  and  their  w^agons  and  horses  for  transporting  their  bag- 
gage, &c., — for  all  which  they  shall  be  fully  paid,  His  Majesty  having 
sent  his  army,  not  for  the  oppression,  but  for  the  protection  of  the 
inhabitants  :  But  I  must  also  signify  that  unless  they  show  a  dutiful 
submission  in  all  respects,  and  an  immediate  compliance  with  these 
orders  respecting  the  cattle  and  wagons,  I  shall  be  under  the  neces- 
sity of  marching  the  forces  under  my  command  v/ithout  delay  into 
the  county,  and  lay  waste  the  property  of  the  disobedient,  as  persons 
unworthy  His  Majesty's  clemency. 

WILL.  ERSKINE,  Brig'r  Gen'l 
Head-Quarters  in  Queens  County.  Aug.  29,  1776. 

602.  Jamaica,  Sep.  1,'76. 
Sir: — I  am  ordered  by  His  Ex.  the  Hon.  Wm.  Howe,  Gen'l.  and 

commander-in-chief  of  all  his  Majesty's  forces  in  N.  A.,  from  Nova 
Scotia  to  the  Floridas,  on  the  application  of  the  County  of  Suffolk,  by 
Nath'l  WoodhuU  and  Sam'l  Philips,  who  have  signified  to  him  that  the 
inhabitants  of  said  Co.  are  desirous  to  lay  down  their  arms  and  again 
become  loyal  and  obedient  subjects  ;  that  for  the  peace  and  ease  and 
security  of  the  inhabitants,  he  is  willing  to  accept  of  their  submission 
and  promise  them  protection,  on  the  King's  Colonels,  or  other  inferiors 
of  Militia,  respectively,  causing  the  men  through  the  county  to  lay  down 
their  arms,  take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  sign  the  said  roll  of  submis- 
sion, disclaiming  and  rejecting  the  orders  of  Congress  and  Committees, 
and  totally  refusing  obedience  to  them,  and  to  obey  the  legal  authority 
of  Gov't.,  and  in  all  places  of  worship  in  future  to  pray  for  the  King 
and  royal  family,  as  was  used  before  the  present  unprovoked  rebellion. 

OLIVER  DELANCEY, 
Major  Gen'l  of  the  Militia  in  the  Southern 
District  of  the  Colony  of  N.  Y. 

To  Col.  CONKLIN. 

603.  Huntington,  Sep.  2,  '76. 
Sir  :  You  are  hereby  directed  to  give  orders  to  all  the  King's 

Capts.,  or  next  commanding  officers  of  Militia,  in  the  3d  Bat.  of  Suf- 
folk Co.,  to  cull  their  several  companies  together,  at  the  usual  places, 
3* 


46  SUBMISSION    OF 

immediately,  and  to  order  those  that  have  taken  up  arms  against  the 
King,  to  lay  them  down  and  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  King, 
and  sign  a  roll  of  submission,  disclaiming  and  rejecting  the  orders 
of  Congress  or  Committees,  and  to  obey  the  legal  authority  of  Gov- 
ernment.    This  is  by  order  of  Gen.  Howe. 

O.  DELANCEY. 

I  have  inclosed  a  true  copy  of  the  writing  sent  me  by  Gen. 
Howe. 

To  Col.  Phineas  Fanning. 

Sep.  2,  '76.  Israel  Wood,  President  of  the  Trustees  of  Huntington 
writes  to  Col.  Livingston  to  disperse  his  army  or  the  Regulars  will  be 
on  him  ;  the  people  are  in  a  doleful  situation,  have  received  the  Procla- 
mation and  sent  in  their  resignations  yesterday.  Smithtovvn  did  the 
same. 

Col.  Abm.  Gardiner  administered  the  oath  of  allegianoe  to  the  peo- 
ple of  East  and  South  Hampton.  He  surrounded  the  house  of  Col. 
Hedges  at  Sagg  and  of  Col.  Mulford  at  East  Hampton,  and  forced  them 
to  the  oath.  Southold  met  by  order  of  Col.  Phineas  Fanning  to  take 
the  oath.  The  cattle  on  Montauk  were  driven  in  to  Erskine.  Tories 
were  enlisting  at  Coram,  before  Sep.  7,  '76. 

Harrison  says,  Sep.  7,  '76,  the  Ministerial  Troops  have  been  to  O. 
Bay  and  Hempstead,  the  disaffected  have  joined  to  assist  the  enemy, 
and  proceeded  as  far  as  Setauket.  Howe  has  set  guards  to  prevent 
stock  or  persons  going  off  the  Island.  Isaac  Ketcham  has  got  a  com- 
mission and  some   recruits.     Wm.  Smith,  of ,  administers  oaths  of 

allegiance,  and  Thos.  Smith,  of  Hog  I.,  receives  submissions.  Col. 
Livingston  is  moving  westward  ;  men  were  going  from  Con't  to  bring 
off  gunpowder  and  flour  which  one  Ireland  had  sold  to  the  British  ;  Col. 
Jos.  Smith  was  in  Con't.  Jour.  612. 

Wm.  Warne,  who  left  Nassau  Island,  Sep.  5,  says  Suffolk  Co.  had 
given  up,  and  Gen.  Howe  sent  word  if  they  would  testify  their  loyalty, 
they  nmst  send  him  200  wagons,  and  they  sent  300  to  remove  baggage 
from  N.  Utrecht  to  Hellgate.  Jour.  619. 

Before  Oct.  7, '76,  200  infantry  and  100  cavalry  were  at  Huntington 
to  force  the  people  to  join  the  British  I'roops.  Jour.  671. 

Oba.  Jones  to   Uriah  Jiogers. 
Sep.  13,  '76.     Zeb.  Howell,  an  E.xpress,  brings  Delancey's  Proclama- 
tion,dated  Sep.  11,  from  Jamaica  to  South  Hampton,  and  says,  "  British 
Head-Quarters  arc  at  Jamaica,  and  2  men  must  be  sent  to  Jamaica  to 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  47 

Gen.  Howe  to  give  a  true  account  of  Suffolk  Co." — Nathan  Woodhull,  of 
Setauket,  was  appointed  for  the  west  part  of  Suffolk,  and  E.  and  S. 
Hampton  will  meet,  Sep.  14,  at  Sagg  Meetiug-House,  to  appoint 
another. 

604.  Jamaica,  Queens  Co.,  Sep.  5,  '76. 
His  Ex.  the  Hon.  Wm.  Howe,  Gen.  and  commander-in-chief  of  all 

His  Majesty's  forces  within  the  Colonies  lying  on  the  Atlantic  Ocean, 
from  Nova  Scotia  to  West  Florida,  inclusive,  &,c.,  having  authorized 
me  to  raise  a  Brigade  of  Provincials  solely  for  the  defence  of  this  Island, 
to  re-establish  order  and  gov't,  within  the  same :  to  apprehend,  or  drive 
all  concealed  rebels  from  among  His  Majesty's  well-affected  subjects, 
and  other  essential  purposes  ;  I  do  hereby,  for  the  encouragement  of  en- 
listing men  in  the  county  of  Suffolk,  give  notice,  that  upon  any  persons 
of  good  recommended  characters,  raising  a  company  of  70  men,  they 
shall  have  commissions  for  one  Capt.,  one  Lt.,  and  one  Ensign,  and 
shall  be  paid  and  subsisted  as  the  officers  and  soldiers  are  in  the  British 
pay :  and  it  is  hoped  the  inhabitants  of  the  county  will  cheerfully  raise 
the  men  wanted  for  the  service,  as  it  will  prevent  the  disagreeable  busi- 
ness of  detaching  them,  which  I  shall  be  under  the  necessity  of  doing, 
if  the  companies  cannot  be  raised  without. 

Given  under  my  hand,  the  date  above. 
OLIVER  DELANCEY,  Brig.  Gen'l 

605.  Jamaica,  Sep.  11, '16. 

1  am  ordered  by  His  Ex.  Gen.  Howe  to  write  to  you,  and  order  all 
the  fat  cattle  and  sheep  in  Suffolk  Co.  to  be  immediately  driven  down 
to  Jamaica,  where  proper  persons  will  be  appointed  to  ascertain  the 
weight  of  them  ;  give  certificates  of  the  value  of  them,  that  the  owners 
may  be  paid  ;  keeping  a  distinct  account  of  those  cattle,  &c.,  that  be- 
long to  the  people  v/ho  are  in  actual  rebellion,  whose  cattle  must  be 
forced  down  for  the  refreshment  of  the  King's  Troops.  This  order 
must  be  speedily  obeyed,  or  the  county  will  otherwise  feel  the  resent- 
ment of  the  King's  Troops.  Reserving  only  as  many  cattle  as  is  neces- 
sary for  their  own  subsistence. 

Given  under  my  hand,  the  above  date. 

OLIVER  DELANCEY,  Brig.  Gen. 

606.  64  men,  women,  and  children  came  to  Milford,  and  nos. 
are  daily  coming  off  to  the  Continent.     Sep.  4. 

Sam'l  Buell,  Sep.  7,  '76,  supports  the  request  of  the  Trustees  of  E. 
Hampton,  that  Gov.  Trumbull  would  not  carry  off  their  stock  and  ef- 


48  SUBBIISSION    OF 

fects.     "  We  are  subjects  of  His  Majesty,  King  George  ;  and  if  acces- 
sory, we  will  be  exposed  to  his  displeasure." 

*Se^.  15.     Wharves  at  Sag  Harbor  crowded  with  emigrants. 

Buell  writes  from  E.  Hampton,  Sept.  22,  '76,  that  the  people  are 
as  a  torch  on  fire  at  both  ends,  which  will  be  speedily  consumed,  for  the 
Con't  Whigs  carry  off  their  stock  and  produce,  and  the  British  punish 
them  for  allowing  it  to  go — hopes  the  Whigs  will  not  oppress  the  op- 
pressed, but  let  the  stock  alone. 

Dan'l  Collins'  Bill  for  going  from  Sag  Harbor  to  E.  Hampton,  and 
taking  from  Col.  Gardiner's  house  130  firearms  and  3  silver-hilted 
swords,  and  from  Col.  Mulford's,  3  casks  powder  and  2  boxes  lead, 
and  at  another  time,  3  casks  powder  from  M.  Gelston,  Esq.,  of  S. 
Hampton,  was  £14.  16. 

Dec.  24,  '76.  Convention  paid  £44.  5.  to  John  Field  and  £630.  4. 
to  others,  for  freight  of  vessels  to  Con't. 

Jas.  Webb  rec'd  ^3  per  day  for  hire  of  his  sloop,  Sep.  6  to  30,  in 
transporting  stock  and  inhabitants  from  L.  I.  to  Coii'^t. 

Jour.  779. 

Dr.  Jona.  Havens,  Steph.  Howell,  and  others,  brought  off  goods  from 
L.  I. 

Convention  paid  £64.  10.  for  freight  and  passage  to  Con't,  of  fami- 
lies and  effects  of  Dan'l  Haines,  Dan'l  Hedges,  Mat.  Osborn,  Jas.  Jen- 
nings, Elisha  Mulford,  Linus  Dibble,  Isa.  Franks,  and  Jona.  Tuttle. 
Dec.  31, '76.  Jowr.  881. 

Before  Sep.  27,  Capt.  Rodgers  carried  off  from  Huntington  Sam'l 
Skidmore  and  Isaac  Ketcham,  who  were  both  put  in  Fairfield  jail.  The 
former  had  possessed  himself  of  the  farm  of  Dr.  Z.  Piatt's  brother ;  tlie 
latter  was  sent  manacled  to  the  N.  Y.  Convention.     Oct.  13. 

Jonr.  649,  636. 

Thos.  Dering,  John  Foster,  and  Thos.  Wickham,  appointed  by 
N.  Y.  a  Committee  to  report  on  the  claims  for  transporting  families, 
stock,  and  effects  from  L.  I.  to  Con't.     Dec.  31,  '76. 

607.  [  Caj)t.  Hale,  an  American  ppy  was  detected  near  Huntington 
and  executed  in  N.  Y.,  but  as  the  accounts  are  conflicting,  we  insert  all 
the  original  notices  of  his  melancholy  fate  we  have  met  with,  and 
leave  the  reader  to  draw  his  own  inferences. — Ed.  ] 

Extract  of  a  Letter  to  the  Missouri  Republican  from  Stephen 
Hempstead,  Sen.,  aged  69,  copied  into  the  L.  L  Star,  of  April  2,  1827. 

I  was  attached  to  Capt.  Hale's  Company  in  Col.  Webb's  Reg.  of  Con- 
tmenlal  Troops,  and  in  his  confidetice.     After  the  ictieat  of  our  army 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  49 

from  L.  I.,  he  informed  me  he  was  sent  for  to  Head  Quarters,  and  was 
solicited  to  go  over  to  L.  I,  to  discover  the  disposition  of  the  Enemy's 
camp,  &c.,  expecting  them  to  attack  N.  Y.,  but  tjjat  he  was  too  unwell 
to  go,  not  having  recovered  from  a  recent  illness  ;  that  upon  a  second 
application  he  had  consented  to  go,  and  said  I  must  go  with  him  as  far 
as  I  could  with  safety  and  wait  for  his  return.  Accordingly  we  left  our 
camp  on  Harlem  Heights,  with  the  intention  of  crossing  over  the  first 
opportunity  :  but  none  offered  until  we  arrived  at  Norwalk,  50  miles 
from  N.  Y.  In  that  harbor  there  was  an  armed  sloop  and  one  or  two 
row  galleys  :  Capt.  Hale  had  a  general  order  to  all  armed  vessels  to  take 
him  to  any  place  he  should  designate.  He  was  set  across  the  Sound  in 
the  sloop  at  Huntington,  L.  I.,  by  Capt.  Pond,  who  commanded  the  ves- 
sel. Capt.  Hale  had  changed  his  uniform  for  a  plain  suit  of  citizen's 
brown  clothes,  with  a  round  broad-brimmed  hat ;  assuming  the  character 
of  a  Dutch  Schoolmaster,  leaving  all  his  other  clothes,  commission, 
public  and  private  papers  with  me,  and  also  his  silver  shoe  buckles,  say- 
ing they  would  not  comport  with  his  character  of  Schoolmaster,  and 
retaining  nothing  but  his  college  diploma,  as  an  introduction  to  his  as- 
sumed calling.  Thus  equipped  we  parted  for  the  last  time  in  life.  He 
went  on  his  mission  and  I  returned  back  again  to  Norwalk,  with  orders 
to  stop  there  until  he  should  return,  or  I  hear  from  him,  as  he  expected 
to  return  back  again  to  cross  the  Sound  if  he  succeeded  in  his  object. 
The  British  army  had,  in  the  mean  time  got  possession  of  N.  Y.> 
whither  he  also  passed,  and  had  nearly  executed  his  mission,  and  was 
passing  the  British  piquet  guard  between  the  Lines  of  the  two  armies, 
within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  his  own  quarters,  when  he  was  stopped  at  a 
tavern  at  a  place  called  the  "  Cedars."  Here  there  was  no  suspicion  of 
his  character  being  other  than  he  pretended,  until  most  unfortunately  he 
was  met  in  the  crowd  by  a  fellow  countryman  and  an  own  relation, 
(but  a  tory  and  renegade,)  who  had  received  the  hospitality  of  his 
board  and  the  attention  of  a  brother  from  Capt.  Hale,  at  his  quarters 
at  Winter  Hill  in  Cambridge  the  winter  before.  He  recognized  him 
and  most  inhumanly  and  infamously  betrayed  him, divulging  his  true  char- 
acter, situation  in  the  army  &c.  ;  and  having  him  searched,  his  diploma 
corroborated  his  relative's  statement,  when  without  any  formality  of  trial 
or  delay,  they  hung  him  instantaneously,  and  sent  a  flag  over  to  our  ar- 
my, stating  that  "  they  had  caught  such  a  man  within  their  lines  this 
morning,  and  hung  him  as  a  spy,"  Thus  suddenly  and  unfeelingly 
did  they  rush  this  young  and  worthy  man  into  eternity,  not  allowing 
him  an  hour's  preparation  nor  the   privilege  of  wiiting  to  his  friends, 


50  .  SUBMISSION    OF 

nor  even  to  receive  the  last  consolations  of  his  religion,  refusing  to  let 
the  chaplain  pray  with  him,  as  was  his  request.  After  parting  with 
Capt.  Hale,  of  all  these  circumstances  I  was  authentically  imformed  at 
the  time  and  do  most  religiously  believe  them.  "  He  died  on  the  inglo- 
rious tree." 

[  The  above  account  by  Mr.  Hempstead  is  valuable  so  far  as  he 
speaks  from  his  own  knowledge  ;  and  yet  I  cannot  help  thinking  he 
is  in  error  when  he  says  Hale  carried  his  diploma  with  him.  Do  sol- 
diers carry  their  diplomas  about  with  them  in  war  ?  Besides,  it 
would  betray  his  real  name.  Why  assume  to  be  a  Dutch  rather 
than  a  Yankee  schoolmaster  ?  He  could  not  speak  or  understand 
Dutch,  and  yet  was  going  among  the  Dutch  with  a  paper  in  his  pock- 
et showing  him  to  be  a  Yankee  by  his  very  name,  Nathan.  May 
not  the  report  of  his  attempting  to  cross  from  one  camp  to  the  oth- 
er at  "  the  Cedars,  "  ( if  there  ever  was  such  a  place,  )  be  a  mere 
supposition,  and  have  grown  out  of  the  idea  that  it  was  most  natural 
for  Hale  to  take  a  short  cut,  rather  than  a  circuitous  one  by  way  of 
Long  Island  ?  One  account  makes  his  betrayer  ( if  there  ever  was 
one )  visit  Hale  in  Coventry ;  the  other,  at  Winter  Hill.  Was  it 
not  the  plans  and  sketches  rather  than  the  diploma  that  betrayed 
Hale  1—Ed.  ] 

Newburyport,  Feb.  13,  '77. 
The  following  is  a  genuine  specimen  of  Tory  benevolence,  and  may  he 
depended  upon  as  a  real  matter  of  fact. 

Sam'l  Hale,  late  of  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  after  his  elopement  thence, 
visited  an  uncle  in  Conn.,  where  he  was  hospitably  entertained  ;  but 
as  his  uncle  was  a  Whig,  and  had  a  son,  a  young  gentleman  of  a  libe- 
ral education,  and  most  amiable  disposition,  who  strongly  felt  for  his 
bleeding  country,  and  being  very  active  in  the  military  way,  was 
urged  and  prevailed  on  to  take  a  commission  in  the  Continental 
Army ;  consequently  Samuel  was  obliged  to  conduct  with  caution, 
and  counterfeit  as  well  as  he  could  a  Whiggish  phiz,  while  he  tar- 
ried, whicli  was  but  a  short  time  however,  before  he  made  his  escape 
to  Gen.  Hovve  in  N.  Y. — Some  time  after  this,  Capt.  Hale,  at  tlie  re- 
quest of  the  General,  went  into  N.  Y.  in  disguise,  and  having  nearly 
accomplished  his  designs,  whom  should  he  meet  but  his  aforesaid 
cousin  Samuel,  whom  he  attem[)ted  to  shun,  but  Sam  knew  him  too 
well.  Capt.  Hale  soon  found  he  was  advertised,  and  so  particularly 
described,  that  he  could  not  get  through  L.  I.,  he  therefore  attempted 


SUFFOLK   COUNTY.  51 

to  escape  by  way  of  Kingsbridge,  and  so  far  succeeded  as  to  get  to  the 
outer  guard,  where  he  was  suspected,  apprehended,  carried  back  and 
tried,  and  yet  would  have  been  acquitted,  had  not  his  affectionate  and 
grateful  cousin  Samuel  appeared  and  made  oath,  that  he  was  a  Cap- 
tain in  the  Continental  Army,  and  that  he  was  in  there  as  a  Spy : 
in  consequence  of  which  he  was  immediately  hung  up ;  however, 
at  the  gallows  he  made  a  sensible  and  spirited  speech,  among  other 
things,  told  them  they  w^ere  shedding  the  blood  of  the  innocent,  and 
that  if  he  had  ten  thousand  lives,  he  would  lay  them  all  down,  if 
called  to  do  it,  in  defence  of  his  injured,  bleeding  country. 

The  Printers  throughout  the  Continent  are  desired  to  exhibit 
this  tragic  scene  to  the  public,  that  they  may  see  what  mercy  they 
are  to  expect  if  they  fall  into  the  hands  of  Tories. 

N.  H.  Gaz.,  Feb.  18,  '77. 

[I  think   the  above  contains  some  gross  misstatements. — Ed.] 

"  In  Hale's  attempt  to  return  he  was  apprehended,  carried  be- 
fore Sir  Wrn.  Howe,  and  the  proof  of  his  object  was  so  clear,  that  he 
frankly  acknowledged  who  he  was  and  what  were  his  views:  Sir  Wm. 
Howe  at  once  gave  an  order  to  the  Provost  Marshal  to  execute  him  the 
next  morning.  The  order  was  accordingly  executed  in  the  most  un- 
feeling manner,  and  by  as  great  a  savage  as  ever  disgraced  humanity. 
A  clergyman,  whose  attendance  he  desired,  was  refused  him  ;  a  Bible 
for  a  moment's  devotion  was  not  procured,  though  he  requested  it.  Let- 
ters which,  on  the  morning  of  his  execution,  he  wrote  to  his  mother  and 
other  friends,  were  destroyed  ;  and  this  very  extraordinary  reason  given 
by  the  Provost  Marshal,  'that  the  rebels  should  not  know  that  they 
had  a  man  in  their  array  who  could  die  with  so  much  firmness.' " 

Hannah  Adams,  as  quoted  by  Dr.  Thatcher. 

The  following  is  from  the  Life  of  Gen.  Wm.  Hull. 

Washington  spoke  to  Knowlton,  and  he  to  Hale.  Hale  advised 
with  Hull,  who  opposed  the  measure  as  dangerous  and  disgraceful. 
Soon  after  this,  Hale  was  absent.  In  a  few  days  a  British  officer  under 
a  flag  informed  Hamilton  that  Hale  had  been  executed  that  morning 
as  a  spy.  The  officer  told  Hull  he  wa»-present  at  the  execution  and 
seemed  touched  at  the  circumstances.  "  Hale  had  passed  through  the 
armies  on  Long  and  York  Islands,  made  sketches  of  fortifications  and 
memoranda.     When  apprehended  he  was  taken  before  Howe,  and  the 


52  SUBMISSION    OF 

concealed  papers  found.  He  at  once  declared  his  name,  rank  and  ob- 
ject. Howe,  without  the  form  of  a  trial,  ordered  his  execution  next 
morning,  and  put  him  in  custody  of  the  Provost  Marshal.  Hale  asked 
for  a  Clergyman.  He  was  refused.  He  next  asked  for  a  Bible.  That 
too  was  refused.  On  the  morning  of  the  Execution  my  station  was 
near  the  fatal  spot,  and  I  requested  the  Provost  Marshal  to  let  Hale  sit 
in  my  marquee  while  the  neccessary  preparations  were  making.  Hale  en- 
tered calm  and  dignified.  He  asked  for  pen  and  ink,  and  wrote  letters 
to  his  Mother  and  a  Brother  officer,  which  were  subsequently  destroyed 
by  Cunningham.  Shortly  after  he  was  summoned  to  the  gallows  ;  few 
were  around.  His  last  words  were,  "  I  only  regret  I  have  but  one  life 
to  give  for  my  country." 

A  British  officer  thus  writes  home  from  Camp  on  N.  Y.  Island, 
Sep.  23,  '76,  "  yesterday  we  hanged  an  officer  of  the  Provincials  who 
came  as  a  spy. "  3Iid.  (  London  )  Jour. 

Jas.  Drewett,  on  board  British  frigate  Mercury  at  N.  Y.  writes,  Sep. 
25,*76,  "  On  the  22d  we  hung  a  man  who  was  sent  as  spy  by  Gen.  Wash- 
ington. "  Mid.  (  London  )  Jour. 

An  American  officer  thus  writes  from  Camp  at  Harlem,  Sep.  26,  '76, 
"One  Hale,  in  N.  Y.,  on  suspicion  of  being  a  spy,  was  taken  up  and 
dragged  without  ceremony  to  the  Execution  Post  and  hung  up. " 

[  Hale, 'tis  said,  had  his  examination  in  the  Green  House  (  still  stand- 
ing )  of  the  Beekman  Mansion,  Howe's  Head  Quarters,  near  Turtle 
Bay,  and  three  miles  from,  the  City  Hall.  The  precise  spot  of  his  Exe- 
cution cannot  be  pointed  out.. — Ed.] 

Local  Traditions  in  Queens  County. 
Sol.  Wooden  said  he  remembered  the  capture  of  Hale  as  if  it  were 
yesterday.  Wooden  was  a  ship  builder  at  Oyster  Bay  2  or  3  miles  from 
the  scene  of  Hale's  capture ;  and  as  he  built  boats  for  the  British,  and 
was  in  constant  intercourse  with  them,  he  heard  the  story  from  the 
very  crew  that  captured  Hale.  Hale  was  set  over  from  Conn,  to  L.  I. 
near  Oyster  Bay,  by  an  American  boat  that  was  to  return  for  him  on  a 
set  day.  He  gave  out  that  he  was  disgusted  with  the  rebel  cause, 
and  had  deserted,  but  did  not  wish  to  enlist,  and  would  like  a  school. 
He  journeyed  on  to  N.  Y.  city,  where  having  obtained  all  possible  infor- 
mation, he  returned  by  L.  I.,  making  his  way  through  the  woods  till  he 
arrived  at  the  shore  about  Huntington  or  Oyster  Bay.  Early  in  the 
morning  he  went  out  to  reconnoitre,  when  he  saw  a  boat  rowing  to  the 
shore.  He  did  not  see  the  frigate  Halifax,  Capt.  Quarme,  to  which  the 
boat    belonged,  and    which  had  come  ashore  for  water.     Perhaps  the 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  53 

frigate  was  hid  by  the  fog  or  an  intervening  point  of  land.  Hale  mis- 
taking this  for  afriendly  boat  walked  deliberately  down  to  the  water  side. 
As  the  boat  struck  the  shore  he  discovered  his  mistake  and  retraced  his 
steps.  He  was  ordered  to  stop  !  On  looking  over  his  shoulder  he  saw 
the  whole  crew  standing  up  with  their  guns  levelled  at  him.  Escape 
was  impossible  ;  he  was  ordered  on  board  and  his  papers  showed  what 
he  was.  He  was  taken  to  N.  Y.  in  the  boat  of  the  Halifax,  and  execu- 
ted on  an  apple  tree  in  Col.  Rutgers'  orchard. — Thompson. 

[  See  also  Queens  Co.,  Sec.  368,  for  an  account  of  his  execu- 
tion.—£(Z.  ] 

Robert  Townsend  of  Oyster  Bay,  who  died  some  years  ago  aged  85, 
used  to  say  he  had  heard  Capt.  Quarme,  of  a  British  armed  vessel  which 
was  lying  in  the  Sound  near  Huntington  at  the  time  of  Hale's  capture, 
say  that  a  boat's  crew  belonging  to  his  vessel  being  ashore  on  L.  I.,  a  lit- 
tle east  of  Pluntington  Plarbor,  was  mistaken  by  Hale  for  people  from 
the  other  side  of  the  Sound,  and  thus  he  committed  himself  before  he 
was  aware  of  his  mistake  into  the  hands  of  his  enemies  ;  and  that 
when  he  found  what  a  fine  fellow  he  was,  he  was  sorry  he  had  fallen 
into  his  power. 

Wm.  Ludlam,  now  living,  aged  87,  says  "he  heard  that  one  of  Capt. 
Quarme's  boats  took  a  man  by  the  name  of  Hale  somewhere  near  Hunt- 
ington Harbor,  and  then  the  man  was  taken  to  N.  Y.,  and  that  was  all 
he  ever  heard  of  him." 

The  death  of  Hale  has  been  the  subject  of  a  Novel,  by  J.  R. 
Simms.     His  life  may  be  found  in  Thompson. 

608.  Saijbrook,  Sep.  12,  '76. 

Dear  Brother  : — I  have  just  time  to  tell  you,  I  have  been  ob- 
liged to  retreat  from  L.  I.  to  this  place  for  several  reasons,  that  I 
have  not  now  time  to  mention.  I  have  given  Gen.  Washington  a 
particular  account  by  the  same  conveyance  this  is  sent  by.  I  shall 
to-morrow,  at  the  head  of  400  men,  set  out  for  Huntington  ;  if  I 
succeed  in  the  attempt  I  am  going  to  make,  I  shall  yet  save  Suffolk 
Co.,  though  most  of  the  inhabitants  Iiave  been  prevailed  upon  to  take 
an  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  King  of  Great  Britain,  through  a  persua- 
sion that  the  Island  was  given  up  as  indefensible.  Gov.  Trumbull 
has  assisted  me  with  260  men. 

HENRY  B.  LIVINGSTON. 
RoBT.  R.  Livingston,  Jr. 

609.  The  towns  of  South  and  East  Hampton  send  a  letter  to 
Howe  (to  avoid  the  imputation  of  being  concerned  with  the  Conn. 


54  SUBMISSION    OF 

whale-boats)  that  some  arms  taken  from  the  people  of  East  Hamp- 
ton, by  order  of  Col.  Gardiner  in  the  King's  name,  had  been  retaken 
by  the  subjects  of  the  States.  Howel,  the  bearer,  was  caught  by 
Col.  Livingston.  Before  Sep.  17,  '76.     Cor.  401. 

610.  Saybrook,  Sep.  24,  '76.  Last  Friday  a  party  from  Lt.  Col. 
Livingston's  detachment  was  put  under  command  of  Capt.  Dan'l 
Roe,  to  go  from  Saybrook  to  B.  Haven,  for  the  purpose  of  bringing 
off  Roe's  family,  and  a  no.  of  others.  On  Friday  night  12  o'clock, 
the  Capt.  left  the  sloop  at  Brook  H. ,  taking  1 4  men  with  him  to  as- 
sist in  bringing  down  the  family,  leaving  14  under  Lt.  Geo.  Smith 
on  board,  to  guard  the  vessel.  He  pressed  teams  as  he  went  to 
bring  down  the  goods,  not  being  able  to  procure  them  by  other 
means.  At  9  A.  M.,  just  as  he  was  ready  to  return,  he  was  inform- 
ed by  one  of  the  guards  that  Richard  Miller  of  B.  Haven,  a  young 
gentleman  of  family  and  fortune,  but  a  notorious  enemy  to  his  country 
(who  had  arms  concealed  at  his  house),  was  passing  his  house  ;  upon 
which  R.  ordered  his  men  to  hail  him,  and  if  he  refused  to  stop,  to 
fire  on  him.  He  was  hailed  3  times,  upon  which  he  stopped,  and  5  men 
with  their  pieces  presented  told  him  they  would  instantly  kill  him  if 
he  attempted  to  stir.  He  stood  and  viewed  them  half  a  minute, 
then  discharged  a  pistol  at  them,  and  rode  off  with  the  utmost  expe- 
dition, on  which  he  was  several  times  ordered  to  stop,  but  he  refu- 
sing, five  guns  were  separately  fired  at  him,  from  the  last  of  which 
a  ball  was  shot  through  his  body,  upon  which  he  dismounted  and 
was  carried  into  Capt.  Roe's  house,  and  left  in  care  of  a  no.  of  the 
inhabitants.  Capt.  R.  being  informed  that  one  Jacob  Smith,  who 
was  in  conjunction  with  Miller,  and  not  far  distant  when  he  was  taken, 
had  collected  a  party  of  several,  and  were  endeavoring  to  surround  and 
take  him,  thought  it  prudent  to  retreat  on  board  his  vessel,  where  he 
had  but  just  time  to  arrive  with  his  wife  and  family,  being  obliged  to 
leave  all  his  effects  behind. 

Miller  and  Smith  had  received  commissions  under  the  King  of 
G.  Britain,  and  had  been  raising  men,  pressing  horses  and  wagons, 
together  with  persons  to  drive  them,  to  assist  Howe  in  removing  his 
baggage.  They  had  likewise  taken  fat  cattle  from  the  inhabitants, 
and  obliged  them  to  drive  them  to  the  Ministerial  Army. 

Conn.  Couranfj   Sep.  30,  '76. 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  55 

611.  This  is  to  certify  that  Ensign  Sam'l  Glover  is  authorized  to 
enlist  men  to  join  my  company  to  complete  a  Bat.  in  His  Majesty's 
service,  for  the  defence  of  the  liberty  of  America. 

Given  under  my  hand,  at  Brookhaven,  Sep.  22d,  1776. 

JACOB  SMITH. 

612.  N.  Y.,  Sep.  27,  '76. 
SiE : — You  are  to  desire  the  Justices  of  the  Peace  to  summon  the 

farmers  of  their  Districts  to  attend  at  some  central  place,  to  demand  of 

each,  what    grain  and  straw  he  can  spare— as  to  hay  we  must  have  the 

whole,  for  which  you'll  give  them  proper  Certificates  to  me  to   pay  them 

by.     The  whole  of  the  grain  and  forage  of  Rebels  in  arms  is  to  be  seized 

for  the  King's  use.     All  persons  removed  off  are  to  be  deemed  Rebels, 

and  dealt  with  accordingly. 

JOHN  MORRISON, 

Commissary  of  Forage. 

To  Mr.  E.  Punderson. 

613.  Copy  of  a  blank  order  left  ivith  the  Inhabitants  of  Suffolk  Co. 

L.  /.,  Sep.  1776. 
You  are  hereby  ordered  to  preserve  for  the  King's  use      loads  of 
hay,         bushels  of  wheat,         of  oats,         of  rye,         of  barley, 
of  Indian  com,  and  all  your  wheat  and  rye  straw ;  and  not  to  dispose 
of  the  same,  but  to  my  order  in  writing,  as  you  will  answer  the  con- 
trary at  your  peril. 

JOHN  MORRISON, 

Major,  and  Commissary  of  Forage. 
G14.  In  pursuance  of  his  Excellency  the  Commander-in-Chief's 
orders  to- me,  you  are  hereby  directed  to  take  into  your  custody  all  the 
grain,  forage,  and  creatures  you  can  find  on  L.  I.,  being  the  property 
of  persons  in  actual  rebellion,  or  who  have  deserted  their  habitations, 
and  put  themselves  under  the  protection  of  the  rebels,  taking  an  exact 
account  of  what  is  so  seized  :  and  report  frequently  to  John  Morrison, 
respecting  grain  and  forage,  and  to  Jas.  Christie,  respecting  creatures. 
In  execution  of  this  duty  you  are  to  employ  such  persons  as  you  think 
proper,  who  will  apply  to  His  Majesty's  Justices  of  the  Peace  to  impress 
boats,  wagons,  horses,  drivers,  mills,  barns  and  what  other  conveniences 
you  may  require  for  the  benefit  of  His  Majesty's  service  :  and  all  officers 
civil  and  military,  are  hereby  required  to  give  you  their  aid.  For  do- 
ing all  which  this  shall  be  a  sufficient  warrant.     Oct.  1,  1776, 

DAN'L  CHAMIER,  Com.  Gen. 


56  SUBMISSION    OF 

Jamaica,  Oct.  2,  1776. 
To  John  Hewlett,  Esq  ,  L.  I. 

You  are  to  use  your  utmost  endeavors  to  bring  me  cattle  and  sheep 
for  the  army  ;  when  delivered  a  receipt  will  be  given,  to  be  paid  at  a 
certain  time  and  place.  If  any  butcher  or  others  interfere  with  you  un- 
der pretence  of  bringing  them  to  me,  without  a  written  order  from  me, 
seize  their  cattle,  put  a  fair  value  on  them,  and  drive  them  to  me,  and 
the  owners  shall  be  paid  ;  also  seize  all  sheep  and  cattle  of  rebels  who 
have  left  their  habitations,  and  employ  proper  people  to  assist  you.  For 
doing  whereof,  this  shall  be  your  warrant. 

JAS.  CHRISTIE,  Com.  for  cattle  and  sheep. 

615.  Lt.  Col.  H.  B.  Livingston  sends  the  N.  Y.  Convention  from 
Saybrook,  Oct.  16,  '76,  the  paroles  of  Col.  Fanning,  Major  Conklin, 
and  Geo.  Howel,  of  L.  I.,  disaffected  to  the  freedom  of  this  country. 
Col.  F.,  a  man  of  influence,  was  apprehended  for  procuring  and 
driving  cattle  to  Gen.  Howe's  Army.  He  has  also  acted  as  Col.  (by 
virtue  of  an  old  commission  from  Geo.  3d)  in  calling  the  people  of 
Southold  together  to  see  whether  they  would  take  the  oath  of  allegi- 
ance. Cor.  349. 

Brookhaven,  Oct.  18,  '76. 

616.  Sir  : — In  consequence  of  instructions  I  have  just  received 
from  head-quarters,  you  are  forthwith  to  impress  wagons  and  horses 
for  his  Majesty's  service.  The  number  is  unlimited ;  therefore  do 
not  stint  the  cause.  If  you  can't  get  a  sufficient  number  of  wagons, 
teams  will  answer — a  driver  for  every  team,  which  you'll  send  with- 
out loss  of  time  to  White  Stone,  near  Flushing.  I  beg.  Sir,  you'll 
exert  yourself  on  this  occasion.  Don't  omit  one  moment,  as  it  seems 
to  be  critical. 

JACOB  SMITH,  Capt.  1st  Comp.,  1st  Bat., 
Delancey's  Brigade. 
To  Sam'l  Glover. 

617.  About  Nov.  1,  '76,  Sam'l  Glover,  a  notorious  offender,  was 
taken  at  Mastic,  on  whom  were  found  papers  611  and  616.  He 
broke  jail  at  N.  London  on  the  night  of  Feb.  1,  '77,  and  escaped. 
$8  reward  offered.— Co??.  Gaz.,  Feb.  14,  '77. 

618.  Jos.  Greene,  Major  1st  Bat.,  writes  from  Hempstead,  Oct. 
22,  '76,  to  Ca})t.  Smith,  quartered  at  Setauket,  to  collect  and  drive 
in  all  rebel  horses  in  Suffolk  Co.  Smith's  Lieutenant,  French,  liad 
brought  2  prisoners  to  Greene. 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  57 

To   the  Right   Honorable    RICHARD,    LORD  VIS. 
COUNT  HOWE,  of  the  Kingdom  of  Ireland,  and  his 
Excellency  WILLIAM  HOWE,  Esquire,  General 
of  His  Majesty^ s  forces  in  America,  the  King's  Com- 
missioners for  restoring  peace  to  His  Majesty's  Colo- 
nies'in  North  America. 
Your  Excellencies,  by  your  Declaration  bearing  date  July  14, 
1776,  were  pleased  to  signify  that  "  the  King  is  desirous  to  deli- 
ver His  American  subjects  from  the  calamities  of  war,  and  other  op- 
pressions which  they  now  undergo ;  and  to  restore  the  Colonies  to 
His  protection  and  peace ;"  and,  by  a  subsequent  Declaration  dated 
Sep.  19,  177G,  having  also  been  pleased  to  express  your  desire  "to 
confer  with  His  Majesty's  well  affected  subjects  upon  the  means  of 
restoring  the  public  tranquillity,  and  establishing  a  permanent  union 
with  every  Colony  as  a  part  of  the  British  Empire ;"  we,  therefore, 
whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  inhabitants  of  the  county  of 
Suffolk,  on  Nassau  Island,  in  the  Province  of  N.  Y.,  reflecting  with 
the  tenderest  emotions  of  gratitude  on  this  instance  of  His  Majesty's 
paternal  goodness,  and  encouraged  by  the  affectionate  manner  in 
which  His  Majesty's  gracious  purpose  hath  been  conveyed  to  us  by 
your  Excellencies,  who  have  thereby  evinced,  that  humanity  is  in- 
separable from  that  true  magnanimity  and  those  enlarged  sentiments 
which  form  the  most  shining  characters,  beg  leave  to  represent  to 
your  Excellencies, 

That  we  bear  true  allegiance  to  our  rightful  Sovereign  Geo. 
the  Tliird,  as  well  as  warm  affection  to  his  sacred  person,  crown  and 
dignity  ;  That  we  esteem  the  constitutional  supremacy  of  Great  Bri- 
tain over  these  Colonies  and  other  depending  parts  of  His  Majesty's 
dominions,  as  essential  to  the  union,  security,  and  welfare  of  the 
whole  empire ;  and  sincerely  lament  the  interruption  of  that  harmony 
which  formerly  subsisted  between  the  parent  state  and  these  her 
Colonies. 

That  many  of  the  loyal  inhabitants  have  been  driven  away  by 
the  calamities  of  war  and  the  spirit  of  persecution  which  lately  pre- 
vailed, or  sent  prisoners  to  New  England  and  other  distant  parts. 

We,  therefore,  hoping  that  the  sufferings  which  our  fellow- 
inhabitants  undergo  for  their  attachment  to  the  Royal  cause,  may 
plead  in  their  behalf,  humbly  pray,  that  your  Excellencies  would  be 


58  SUBMISSION   OF 

pleased   to  restore   this  county  to  His  Majesty's  protection  and 
peace. 

Suffolk  Co.,  Oct.  —,  1776. 
Signed  by  614  persons. 

To  His  Excellency  Wm.  Try  on,  Esq.,  Capt.  Gen.  and 
Governor-in-  Chief  in  and  over  the  Province  of  New- 
York,  and  the  Territories  depending  thereon  in  Ame- 
rica, Chancellor  and  Vice  Admiral  of  the  same. 
May  it  please  your  Excqjlency :  We  the  inhabitants  of  the  coun- 
ty of  Suffolk,  beg  leave  to  congratulate  your  Excellency  on  your 
return  to  the  capital  of  your  government,  and  to  assure  you,  that  we 
feel  the  sincerest  joy  on  this  happy  event,  which  opens  a  prospect 
that  we  shall  once  more  experience  the  blessings  of  peace  and  se- 
curity under  His  Majesty's  auspicious  government  and  protection — 
blessings  which  we  formerly  enjoyed  under  your  Excellency's  mild 
administration,  and  which  we  ardently  wish  to  have  renewed:  per- 
severing in  our  loyalty  and  unshaken  attachment  to  our  gracious 
Sovereign  in  this  time  of  distress  and  trial,  and  anxious  to  testify 
our  affection  for  Him,  we  have  embraced  the  earliest  opportunity  to 
petition  the  King's  Commissioners  that  they  would  restore  this  Coun- 
ty to  His  Majesty's  peace,  although  many  of  the  most  respectable 
inhabitants  and  a  much  greater  number  of  the  inferior  classes  have 
been  driven  off  by  the  calamities  of  war,  or  sent  prisoners  to  New 
England  or  other  distant  parts,  yet  we  hope  the  number  still  remain- 
ing, and  who  have  voluntarily  subscribed,  may  be  deemed  sufficient 
to  entitle  this  district  to  His  Majesty's  grace,  whilst  the  sufferings 
which  our  absent  fellow-citizens  undergo  for  the  royal  cause,  plead 
in  their  behalf  with  the  Commissioners, — from  whose  well  known 
liumanity,  benevolence  and  enlarged  sentiments,  we  have  the  most 
flattering  expectations.  Nov.  28,  1776. 

Signed  in  behalf  of  the  inhabitants  by 

RICHARD  FLOYD, 
THOMAS  FANNING, 
FRED'K  HUDSON. 
New-York,  Dec.  2, '76. 
Gentlemen  : — Agreeable  to  the  request  in  the  address  delivered 
to  mc  by  you,  in  behalf  of  the  inhabitants  of  Suffolk  Co.,  I  have  pre- 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  59 

Rented  their  very  dutiful  and  loyal  petition  and  representation  to  His 
Excellency  Gen.  HOWE,  one  of  the  King's  Commissioners  for  re- 
storing peace  to  His  Majesty's  Colonies,  who  was  pleased  to  say  : 
"  He  would  take  the  earliest  opportunity  of  communicating  with 
Lord  HOWE  on  the  occasion."  Every  public  testimony  of  loyalty 
to  our  most  Gracious  Sovereign,  and  attachment  to  the  British  Con- 
stitution, is  at  this  season  particularly  commendable,  and  the  inhab- 
itants of  Suffolk  Co.  may  be  assured  of  my  good  wishes  for  the 
completion  of  their  desires,  as  expressed  in  their  petition  and  repre- 
sentation, the  granting  of  which  is  happily  committed  to  the  wisdom 
and  discretion  of  His  Majesty's  Commissioners. 

I  am,  with  regard.  Gentlemen. 

Your  most  ob't  servant, 

WM.  TRYON. 
To  Major  Richard  Floyd, 
Mr.  Tho's  Fanning, 
Mr.  Frederick  Hudson, 

of  Suffolk  Co. 

A  copy  of  what  was  sent  ihrovgh  Svffolk  Co.  hy  order  of 
Gov.  Try  on. 

620.  The  Governor  of  the  Province  recommends  to  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Suffolk  Co.,  the  following  measures,  as  the  best  means  for 
those  who  have  been  active  in  the  rebellion,  to  preserve  their  lives 
and  estates,  viz.  that  all  offensive  arms,  indiscriminately,  be  forth- 
with collected,  in  each  manor,  township  and  precinct,  as  soon  as 
possible,  to  dehver  them  np  at  head-quarters,  to  the  Commander-in- 
chief  of  the  King's  troops. 

That  those  who  have  been  active  in  the  rebellion,  if  fit  to  bear 
arms,  forthwith  to  wait  on  the  Gen'l,  and  enlist  in  the  regular  ser- 
vice for  the  term  of  the  present  w^ar  ;  if  not  fit  to  bear  arms,  to  send 
one  of  their  sons  to  enlist  in  their  stead  ;  if  no  sons,  then  to  perform 
some  unasked  signal  service,  that  may  merit  the  protection  of  Gov't. 
The  inhabitants  of  each  town  to  associate,  to  prevent  any  person  go- 
ing to  the  Main,  and  secure  those  coming  thence  ;  and  to  secure  and 
deliver  up  all  persons  known  to  be  active  enemies  to  the  rights  of 
the  Constitution, 

And  the  several  townships  to  furnish  as  many  men  as  possible 


60  SUBMISSION    OF 

fit  to  bear  arms,  to  invite  those  back  who  have  fled  from  the  county, 
to  enhst  in  Gen.  Delancey's  brigade.  And  lastly,  thei  nhabitants  to 
send  all  the  wood,  forage,  and  provisions  they  can  spare,  to  N.  Y. 
market  or  such  place  as  the  Gen'l  shall  order. 

[Can  the  above  (taken  from  a  New  Haven  paper)  be  genuine  ? 
—Ed.-] 

The  County  Committees  and  Committees  of  Townships  of  Suf- 
folk Co.,  meet  respectively  as  soon  as  possible,  by  the  Governor's 
permission,  for  the  purpose  of  revoking  all  their  proceedings  under 
the  Congress,  and  formally  to  dissolve  their  unlawful  associations  : 
the  County  having  now  submitted  to  the  King,  his  laws  and  Gov't. 

WM.  TRYON. 

Note. — When  the  above  is  accomplished,  the  Gov'r  will  review 
the  militia. 

N.  Y.  Gaz.,  Nov.  11,  '76.  The  following  declarations  from  the 
Committees  of  Suffolk  and  from  all  the  Town  Com's  were  delivered 
to  His  Ex.  Gov.  Tryon  on  Thursday  last,  by  Major  Richard  Floyd 
and  Mr.  Tho's  Fanning,  who  were  deputed  by  the  inhabitants  to  pre- 
sent the  same. 

Huntington,  Oct.  21, '76. 

The  Committee  of  Huntington,  being  thoroughly  convinced  of  the 
injurious  and  inimical  tendency  of  our  former  meetings  and  resolutions, 
and  willing  to  manifest  our  hearty  disapprobation  of  all  such  illegal 
measures,  do  hereby  dissolve  this  committee,  and  as  far  as  in  us  lies,  re- 
voke and  disannul  all  former  orders  and  resolutions  of  all  committees  and 
Congresses  whatsoever,  as  being  undutiful  to  our  lawful  Sovereign,  re- 
pugnant to  the  principles  of  the  British  Constitution,  and  ruinous  in  the 
extreme,  to  the  happiness  and  prosperity  of  this  country. 

BrooTihavcn,  Oct.  24,  1776. 

We  the  Committee  of  the  County  of  Suffolk,  being  assembled  by 
permission  of  His  Ex.  the  Hon.  Wm.  Tryon,  Esq.,  Gov.  of  N.  Y.,  and 
the  Territories  depending  thereon  in  America,  do  hereby  dissolve  our- 
selves, and  do  disclaim  and  reject  the  orders  of  Congress  and  Com's  ; 
and  totally  refusing  obedience  to  them  ;  revoking  all  our  proceedings 
under  the  Congress,  and  being  desirous  to  obey  the  legal  authority  of 
Gov't,  rely  upon  your  Excellency's  clemency,  hoping  that  you  will  pass 
by  our  former  conduct,  and  be  graciously  pleased  to  protect  us,  agreea- 
bly to  the  laws  of  the  Province.     Signed  by  order  of  the  Committee. 

JOHN  BRUSH,  Ch'n. 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  61 

Declarations  of  Smithtown  (Oct.  19),  of  Soulhold  (Oct.  25),  of 
South  Hampton  and  of  East  Hampton  (Oct.  21),  were  in  like  words. 

Nov.  28,  '76.  The  Dissolution  of  the  Committee  of  Suffolk  Co, 
and  the  Committees  of  the  several  townships,  with  the  revocation 
of  all  their  proceedings  and  orders  under  the  Congress,  was  ef- 
fected by  my  particular  recommendation. 

TRYON. 


PART  III. 

ARMED  OCCUPATION  OF  SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 

621.  Oct  28,  '76.  Gov.  Trumbull  directs  6  R.  I.  whale-boats, 
with  36  men  under  Cols.  Livingston  and  Richmond,  with  Lt.  Geo. 
Smith,  Caleb  Brewster,  and  D.  Roe  (best  acquainted  with  the  situa- 
tion of  places),  to  take  three  transports  and  make  the  best  of  their 
way  to  Southold  Bay,  to  Canoe  Place ;  tlience  across  into  South 
Bay  up  as  far  as  Mastic,  and  bring  off  the  effects  of  Col.  Floyd  and 
others  of  our  friends,  and  return  as  soon  as  possible. 

Instead  of  this  they,  captured  2  sloops  (Princess  Mary  and  Lily), 
loading  with  wood  by  order  of  Capt.  Smith,  for  Gen.  Howe,  and 
lying  at  the  dock,  head  of  Brookhaven  Harbor.  They  also  surprised 
Capt.  Smith  and  part  of  his  company,  but  declined  marching  to 
Smithtown,  to  attack  the  rest  of  Delancey's  Brigade  stationed 
there. 

N.  Haven,  Nov.  6,  '76.  A  few  nights  since,  between  300  and  400 
troops  from  Rhode  Island  crossed  the  Sound  and  landed  near  Setauket, 
where  they  engaged  a  party  of  the  troops  newly  enlisted  into  Gen. 
Howe's  army,  commanded  by  one  Smith  ;  5  or  6  of  his  men  were  killed 
in  the  action,  and  himself  and  23  of  his  company  made  prisoners,  who 
were  brought  off,  with  75  excellent  muskets.  The  prisoners  are  a  mot- 
ley herd,  half  being  negroes  and  Indians.  Of  the  R.  I.  troops  one  was 
killed  and  one  wounded. 

N.  London,  Nov.  8,  '76.  A  number  of  troops  from  R.  I.,  E.  End  of 
L.  I.  and  Con't,  embarked  at  New  Haven  and  landed  at  Setauket,  on 
L.  I.,  with  a  view  of  bringing  off  some  tories,  and  the  effects  of  a  gen- 
tleman friendly  to  the  American  cause  ;  being  interrupted  by  some  tories, 
who  fired  upon  them,  they  killed  10,  and  brought  off  23  ;  two  of  the 
latter,  deserters  from  our  army.  A  sergeant  in  our  party  was  killed  in 
the  contest. 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  63 

622.  Nov.  9,  '76.  Benj.  Birdsall,  Thos.  Brush,  and  Carll 
Ketcham.  rec'd  from  Convention  £lO.  1.  6.  for  guarding  and  con- 
veying, from  Norwich  to  Fishkill,  2  prisoners,  (brought  from  L.  I.) 

Jour.  708. 

623.  Nov.  23,  '76.  Thos.  Wicks  and  Eliph.  Brush  received  of 
Convention  at  Fishkill  £4.  16.  for  conveying  counterfeiters  to  N. 
Y.  in  May  and  June  last.  [Wicks  had  removed  to  Saybrook,  before 
Nov.  15.  He  also  received  £4  for  riding  express  to  Albany  with 
letters  from  Head-Quarters.     (See  542.)  Jour.  714. 

624.  New  London,  Jan.  3,  '77.  Several  transports  belonging  to 
the  ministerial  fleet,  are  loading  with  wood  at  the  east  end  of  L.  I., 
under  guard  of  some  men-of-war.  'Tis  said  the  inhabitants  have 
suffered  much  from  the  soldiers,  who  rob  them  of  their  effects. 

625.  There  are  two  companies  of  Tories  stationed  at  Hunting- 
ton, but  not  a  man  E.  of  there  ;  also,  about  10  or  a  doz.  regular  offi- 
cers, without  any  men.  They  are  billeted  on  the  inhabitants,  all  of 
them  without  pay,  and  have  plundered,  stole,  and  destroyed  to  such 
a  dejiree,  that  the  inhabitants  must  unavoidably  starve  in  a  little  time, 
for  want  of  food.  Sundry  of  the  principal  men  have  been  beaten  in 
an  unheard  of  manner  for  not  complying  with  their  unrighteous  re- 
quests, particularly  good  Dr.  Piatt  and  Mr.  John  Brush.  The  JSIeet- 
ing-House  made  a  storehouse  of,  no  public  icoi-ship  allowed  of,  and 
the  good  people  assembled  5  miles  out  of  town,  at  West  Hills — they 
(British)  followed  them,  and  broke  up  their  assembling  together  any 
more.      Gaiyie,  Feb.  17,  '77. 

Tn  '77  the  British  troops  at  Huntington  took  possession  of  the 
church,  tore  up  the  seats  and  used  it  as  a  depot  for  military  stores.  The 
bell  was  carried  on  board  a  British  ship,  but  restored  afterwards,  so  in- 
jured that  it  was  recast.  Prime. 

626.  N.  London,  March  14,  '77.  Last  Sunday  the  British  Fleet 
took  from  John  Brown,  on  Fisher's  Island,  106  sheep,  8  oxen,  11 
cows,  22  yearlings,  26  swine,  24  turkies,  48  fowls,  123  bushels  corn, 
100  do.  potatoes,  5^  tons  pressed  hay,  and  3  cords  wood.  Also,  a 
barrel  of  pork  out  of  the  cellar,  blankets,  sheets,  and  shot  some  sheep. 
Stock  chiefly  paid  for.  There  are  20  ships  at  anchor  in  Gardiner's 
Bay. 


64  ARMED    OCCUPATTON    OF 

627.  One  night,  week  before  last,  a  party  of  rebels  came  over 
from  Con't  to  the  house  of  Solomon  Smith,  of  Smithtown,  and 
robbed  him  of  all  the  clothing  of  his  family  and  some  household  fur- 
niture. On  their  return,  the  boat  overset,  and  'tis  supposed  the  whole 
party  perished,  as  the  boat  and  some  dead  bodies  were  found  on  the 
shore  near  Mr.  Smith's  within  a  day  or  two  afterwards.  Gaine,  Ap. 
7,  '77. 

628.  E.  Dayton,  under  Capt.  John  Clark,  by  order  of  Putnam, 
seized  (Ap.  '77),  a  wagon  and  goods  on  L.  I.  the  property  of  Oba. 
Wright,  of  Saybrook. 

629.  Levi  Allen  (brother  of  Ethan)  posted  at  Mrs.  Elubbard's, 
in  Mattituck,  some  counterfeit  bills  (as  a  warning  to  the  public)  ; 
gave  one  to  Rufus  Tuthill,  at  Oyster  Pond,  and  one  to  John  Brown, 
on  Fisher's  Island.     A".  London,  May  2,  '77. 

630.  Wm.  Smith,  member  of  the  Council  of  Safety,  was  ex- 
cused, May  4,  '77,  from  acting,  as  he  has  a  family  and  estate  on  L. 
I.  in  the  power  of  the  enemy.  Jour.  911. 

Parsons  to  Trumhull,  N.  Haven,  May,  25,  '77. 

631.  I  sincerely  congratulate  your  honor  on  the  success  of  our 
arms  on  L.  I.  Col.  Meigs  left  Sachem's  Head  on  Friday  at  1  P. 
M.,  with  160  men,  and  landed  within  3  miles  of  Sag  H.  at  about  one 
the  night  following  ;  and  having  made  the  proper  dispositions  for 
attacking  the  enemy  in  5  different  places,  proceeded  with  the  greatest 
order  and  silence  till  within  20  rods  of  the  enemy,  when  they  rushed 
with  fixed  bayonets  upon  the  different  barracks,  guards,  and  quarters 
of  the  enemy  :  whilst  Capt.  Troop,  with  a  party  under  his  command, 
at  the  same  time  took  possession  of  the  wharves  and  vessels  lying 
there.  The  alarm  soon  became  general,  and  an  incessant  fire  of 
grape  and  round  shot  was  kept  up  from  an  armed  schooner  of  12 
guns,  which  lay  within  120  yds.  of  the  wharves,  for  near  an  hour; 
notwithstanding  which  the  party  burnt  all  the  vessels  at  the  wharf, 
killed  and  captivated  all  the  men  belonging  to  them,  destroyed  about 
100  tons  of  hay,  large  quantities  of  grain,  10  hhds.  of  rum,  and 
other  W.  India  goods,  and  secured  all  the  soldiers  who  were  there 
stationed.  90  prisoners,  among  them  Mr.  Chew  and  Mr.  Bell — not 
a  man  killed  or  wounded  on  our  side.  The  officers  and  men  behaved 
with  the  greatest  order  and  bravery.     N.  London,  May  30,  '77. 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  65 

Guilford,  May  29,  '77. 

Gen.  Parsons  having  received  intelligence  that  the  enemy  were  col- 
lecting large  quantities  of  forage  at  Sag  Harbor,  on  L.  I.;  last  Friday,  23d, 
about  200  of  the  Continental  troops,  who  had  previously  rendezvous'd  at 
Sachem's  Head,  in  Guilford,  embarked  on  board  a  number  of  whale- 
boats,  commanded  by  Lt.  Col.  Meigs,  to  destroy  it.  At  about  6  o'clock, 
afternoon,  they  arrived  at  the  beach  (Southold),  this  side  of  Plumgut,and 
transported  their  boats  about  50  rods  over  the  beach,  when  they  again 
embarked,  and  landed  within  4  miles  of  Sag  Harbor,  where,  (after  leav- 
ing a  suitable  guard  to  protect  the  boats  hid  in  the  woods,)  they  marched 
with  such  secrecy  as  not  to  be  discovered  till  within  a  few  rods  of  the 
sentry.  They  soon  set  about  destroying  the  forage,  &,c.  As  the  enemy 
stationed  there,  were  entirely  off  their  guard,  our  troops  met  with  little 
opposition.  An  armed  schooner  of  12  guns,  which  lay  not  far  from  the 
shore,  kept  an  incessant  fire  on  them,  but  happily  did  no  damage.  Our 
people  returned  the  fire  with  their  small  arms,  but  whether  with  eflfect  is 
not  known ;  5  or  six  of  the  enemy  on  shore  were  destroyed,  and  three 
or  4  made  their  escape — the  others  were  made  prisoners.  Our  people 
set  fire  to  the  hay  (about  100  tons),  which  was  on  board  transports,  and 
on  the  wharves,  which  was  entirely  destroyed,  with  10  transport  ves- 
sels, mostly  sloops  and  schooners,  and  one  armed  vessel  of  6  or  8  guns, 
2  or  3  hogsheads  of  rum,  &c.  Our  troops  are  all  returned,  having  per- 
formed their  expedition  in  24  hours.  [The  enemy's  troops  on  this  part 
of  the  Island  had  marched  to  New  York  two  days  before,  but  it  was 
reported  a  party  was  at  Sag  Harbor.]  Sparks,  IV.  441. 
Prisoners  Taken. 

One  Capt.,  2  Commissaries,  (one,  Jos.  Chew,  formerly  of  N.  Lon- 
don), 3  Sergeants,  53  Privates,  10  Masters  of  transports,  27  Seamen  ; 
total,  90.     Our  people  brought  off  fifty  muskets.     [See  Prime,  210  ] 

632.  [May  28,  '77.  Col.  Smith  and  Rev.  Mr.  Hart,  were  brought  to 
the  Provost  where  Hart  fell  sick,  and  lay  at  death's  door.  Col.  Ethan 
Allen  kneeled  down  and  made  so  fervent  a  prayer  by  his  side,  and  oth- 
erwise cheered  him  up,  that  he  recovered  and  was  admitted  on  parole  in 
New- York  City,  Oct.  2o.—Ed.] 

633.  David  Hawley,  in  the  Schuyler,  took  the  sloop  Peggy,  Chas. 
Thomas,  master,  and  sloop  Ann,  Ezekiel  Bishop,  master.  Aug.  10,  '77. 

634.  Avg.2b,  '77,  "Last  Friday,  Gen.  Parsons  landed  500  men 
from  3  Privateers  at  Setauket  with  several  pieces  of  brass  cannon, 
and  summoned  the  small  Fort  there  to  surrender.  The  Commander, 
Col.  Hewlett,  desired  one  hour  to  consider  of  the  matter,  when  he 


66  ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF 

was  allowed  only  10  minutes.  His  answer  was,  '  he  would  defend 
the  Fort  for  his  Majesty  King  George  the  3d,  as  long  as  he  had  a 
man  alive ;'  when  a  smart  fire  immediately  ensued ;  but  the  rebels 
were  soon  obliged  to  embark,  several  of  them  being  killed  and 
wounded,  as  much  blood  was  seen  in  their  encampment  after  they 
went  away.  We  had  1  killed  and  2  or  3  wounded.  On  this  occa- 
sion the  militia  of  Queens  Co.  turned  out  in  order  to  support  the 
Royal  cause,  but  the  Rebels  went  off  with  such  precipitation,  that 
the  Militia  were  ordered  to  return  before  they  reached  Setauket." 

Gaine. 

Letters  thai  passed  betiveen  the  two  Commanders  on  the  above  occasion. 
Aug.  22. 

Brig.  Gen.  Parsons,  the  Commanding  officer  of  the  troops  of  the 
United  American  Army,  now  investing  the  enemy's  Post  at  Setauket, 
to  prevent  the  effusion  of  human  blood,  requires  the  immediate  sur- 
render of  the  Post ;  the  officers  and  soldiers,  and  those  who  are  under 
their  protection,  shall  be  entitled  to  their  baggage,  and  treated  with  that 
humanity  which  prisoners  are  entitled  to.  Your  answer  is  desired 
in  10  minutes.  I  am  fully  sensible  of  your  condition,  and  as  my 
whole  strength  and  artillery  will  soon  be  here,  if  your  refusal  should 
oblige  to  the  effusion  of  blood  ;  you  must  charge  it  to  your  own  ob- 
stinacy. 

Col.  Hewlett's  compliments  to  Gen.  Parsons,  and  requests  half 
an  hour  to  consult  his  officers  on  the  subject  of  his  summons. 

Gen.  Parsons'  compliments  to  Col.  Hewlett,  and  grants  10  mi- 
nutes only  for  consideration — longer  time  will  not  be  granted. 

Col,  Hewlett  presents  his  compliments  to  Gen.  Parsons,  and  is 
determined  to  defend  the  Fort  while  he  has  a  man  left. 

Gen.  Parsons'  compliments  to  Col.  Hewlett,  and  should  have  been 
happy  to  have  done  himself  the  pleasure  of  paying  him  a  longer 
visit,  but  the  extreme  heat  of  the  weather  prevents  him. 

[Setauket  was  one  of  the  British  outposts.  Col.  Hewlett,  with  Capts. 
Lister,  Hewlett,  Allison,  and  260  men,  was  stationed  here.  As  a  place 
of  resort  in  case  of  attack,  he  inclosed  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  the  dis- 
tance of  30  ft.  with  an  earthen  mound  G  ft.  high  and  5  ft.  thick  laid  with 
fascines  so  as  to  be  ball-proof.  On  the  top  were  set  pickets  G  ft.  high  and 
3  in.  apart.  Pickets  also  projected  from  the  outer  side  over  the  ditch. 
Two  steps  of  earth  were  made  inside  the  wall  for  the  men  to  rise  on  and 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  67 

fire  their  muskets  between  the  pickets.  A  heavy  double  gate  was  on  the 
South  side.  Four  swivels  were  mounted  at  the  gallery  windows.  The 
Americans  landed  at  Mt.  Misery  from  sloops,  before  daylight.  It  is  a 
high  hill  3  or  4  miles  N.  E.  from  the  Fort.  Col.  Hewlett  had  set  a 
guard  here  which  gave  the  alarm  and  enabled  the  soldiers,  who  were 
billeted  on  the  inhabitants,  to  escape  intojhe  Fort  and  send  ofFexpresses 
for  help.  Col.  H.  was  quartered  at  Col.  Floyd's,  and  jumped  out  of  his 
bedroom  window  with  clothes  in  hand,  and  by  a  circuitous  route  barely 
reached  the  fort.  The  Americans  advanced  from  the  East,  and  at  5 
A.  M.,  summoned  the  garrison.  Col.  H.  addressed  his  men:  Soldiers! 
Shall  we  surrender  ?  No!  was  the  response.  Then  I'll  stick  to  yoi. 
as  long  as  there's  a  man  left.  The  Americans'  then  planted  their  artil 
lery  on  a  rock  in  full  view  of  the  church,  300  or  400  yds.  distant,  and 
commenced  the  attack  with  3  pieces.  They  did  not  bring  their  grand 
force  into  action  nor  use  mu.sketry,  but  kept  up  a  brisk^cannonade.  The 
church  was  perforated  with  balls,  and  one  rafter  split  its  whole  length, 
one  man  [Caleb  Brewster  ?]  was  very  active  in  elevating  and  firing  his 
piece.  Chas.  Wilson  (who  was  soon  after  shot  through  the  head)  said, 
I  will  kill  that  red-breeched  man,  and  he  was  a  mark  for  others  ;  but  as 
the  assailants  carried  off  the  fallen,  it  is  not  known  what  became  of  him. 
The  fire  from  the  Fort  was  through  the  pickets  with  small  arms,  but  with 
no  effect,  the  Americans  being  too  far  off*.*  The  principal  fire  was  from 
the  swivels,  "  and  we  kept  them  warm,"  says  S.  Verity.  Chambers 
Townsend,  of  Duchess  Co.,  was  shot  through  the  body.  Three 
others  were  killed  and  2  or  3  wounded.  Thos.  Pigeon,  Oba.  Verity, 
Wm.  Covert,  and  Tim.  Moore,  of  O.  B.  were  in  the  action.  The  at- 
tack lasted  2  or  3  hours,  when  the  Americans  retreated.  It  was  well 
they  did  ;  had  ihey  remained  3  hours  longer  they  would  have  been  cut 
off*  by  reinforcements  approaching  from  all  parts.  Capt.  Dan'l  Youngs, 
of  0.  Bay,  had  reached  Smithtown,  and  the  ships  of  war  at  Huntington, 
were  under  way.  Six  months  after  this  the  garrison  left,  and  the  Fort 
was  abandoned. — Ed.] 

The  General  desires  particularly  to  express  his  approbation  of  the 
spirited  behavior  and  good  conduct  of  Col.  Hewlett,  and  the  officers 
and  men  under  his  command,  in  the  defence  of  the  redoubt  at  Setau- 
ket  upon  L.L,  in  which  Col.  Hewlett  was  attacked  by  a  large  body  of 
the  enemy  with  cannon,  whom  he  repelled  with  disgrace,  Aug. 
24,  '77. 

vSTEPHEX  KEMBLE, 

Dcp.  Adj.  Gen. 


68  ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF 

636.  $5  Reward  and  charges  paid  by  Thos.  Place,  of  Eastwoods. 
Stolen  or  strayed  from  Widow  Burk's  plantation  at  Long  Swamps, 
Huntington,  a  bay  horse,  a  feather  each  side  of  his  neck,  &c. 

Sep.  22,  '77,  Gaine. 

636.  Gaine,  Dec.  1,  '77.  Last  Sunday  week  a  sloop  from  Hunt- 
ington, bound  to  N.  Y.  with  wood,  was  taken  by  2  whale  boats  full 
of  rebels,  soon  after  she  sailed.  Capt.  Kendal  in  a  small  schooner 
with  2  swivel  guns  being  in  sight,  gave  chase  to  the  whale  boats  and 
plied  them  so  warmly  with  his  little  artillery  that  they  rehnquished 
the  prize  and  made  for  the  shore  with  the  greatest  expedition. 

637.  Dec.  22,  '77.  In  exploring  the  territories  of  Zephaniah 
Piatt,  of  Smithtown,  father  to  Sam'l  Broom's  partner,  there  was  found 
snugly  concealed  in  a  barn,  2  whale  boats,  which  were  instantly 
committed  to  the  flames,  and  Mr.  Piatt  in  propria  'persona,  secured 
in  custody  of  the  captors,  who  drove  off  the  cattle  and  live  stock 
from  his  farm.  Gaine. 

Zephaniah  Piatt  was  imprisoned  in  N.  Y.,  and  restored  to  liberty 
through  the  personal  application  of  his  daughter  Dorothea  to  Sir  Henry 
Clinton ;  but  having  caught  the  small-pox  while  confined,  he  died,  Jan. 
27,  '78.  .^  Thompson,  2.  473. 

638.  Gen.  Parsons  and  Col.  Webb  formed  a  plan  of  descent  on 
L.  L  to  destroy  timber  and  boards  on  the  E.  end,  prepared  for  bar- 
racks in  N.  Y.,  to  destroy  the  shipping  lying  there  for  wood  for 
Newport,  to  attack  a  Reg.  stationed  8  miles  E.  of  Jamaica,  and  re- 
move or  destroy  whatever  public  stores  could  be  found.  Col.  Meigs 
was  to  land  at  Hempstead  harbor  and  attack  the  Reg.  [at  Herricks  ?] 
near  Jamaica ;  Col.  Webb  to  land  near  Huntington,  to  sustain 
Meigs  and  afford  aid  to  the  eastern  division  under  Parsons.  Meigs 
was  to  cross  from  Sawpits,  but  the  weather  prevented.  The  otlier  2 
divisions  sailed  from  Norwalk,  Dec.  9,  '77,  at  night.  Col.  Webb 
fell  in  with  the  Falcon,  grounded  and  could  not  land,  as  the  surf  ran 
too  high.  With  Webb,  4  Officers,  20  Continentals  and  40  Militia 
were  taken  prisoners.  Sparks,  F.  211. 

N.  London,  Dec.  19.  A  plan  having  been  formed  to  bring  off  or 
destroy  a  magazine  of  military  stores  which  the  enemy  had  at  Setauket, 
on  L.  I.,  and  to  destroy  some  shipping  loaded  with  timber  at  Southold, 
on  Tuesday  night  of  last  week,  part  of  2  Battalions  of  troops  embarked 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  69 

from  this  State,  under  convoy  of  the  sloop  Schuyler,  and  Spy  and  Mifflin, 
schooners.  Unfortunately  next  morning,  just  before  light,  the  Falkland, 
a  British  Frigate,  in  her  passage  from  N.  Y.  to  Newport,  came  across 
the  Schuyler  and  2  smaller  vessels,  when  the  latter  run  ashore  on  the 
Island,  but  the  former  in  attempting  to  get  in  with  the  land,  run  on  a 
spit  of  sand  (called  Old  Man's)  and  was  taken  with  about  60  troops  on 
board,  among  them  Cols.  Ely,  and  Sam'l  B.  Webb,  &c.  On  Thursday, 
a  party  of  men  under  Capt.  Hart,  marched  to  Southold  and  were  very 
near  making  prisoners  of  Capt.  Ayscough  and  upwards  of  20  men  be- 
longing to  the  ship  Swan,  who  were  in  a  house  in  Southold,  but  they 
getting  intelligence  of  Capt.  Hart's  approach  hasted  to  their  boats. 
They  were  closely  pursued,  and  as  they  were  getting  on  board,  were 
fired  upon,  when  most  of  them  were  killed  or  wounded  :  7  marines  and 
seamen  were  made  prisoners.  Our  troops  after  tarrying  several  days  on 
L.  I.,  returned  to  the  Main,  without  opportunity  to  effect  any  thing  con- 
siderable— the  shipping  having  left  Southold,  and  we  learn  the  maga- 
zine at  Setauket   has  been  removed.     Dec.  24,  '77.     Con.  Gaz. 

Riv.  Dec.  13,  '77.  Last  Wed.  morning  a  party  of  rebels  landed  at 
Setauket  and  proceeded  to  plunder  the  well-affected  inhabitants,  and  in 
the  afternoon  a  reinforcement  of  troops  was  sent  to  Col.  Hewlett  in  Suf- 
folk Co.  Dec.  20,  we  are  informed  that  the  party  of  200  rebels 
which  were  lately  driven  ashore  in  Suffolk  Co.,  had  not  been  able  to 
get  away,  as,  it  is  said,  through  the  vigilance  of  the  Commanders  of 
His  Majesty's  Ships,  all  the  boats  have  been  secured,  and  the  invaders 
betaken  themselves  to  the  woods.  Major  Greene  marched  on  Thursday 
with  a  reinforcement  of  100  men  ;  and  200  of  the  Hempstead  militia 
are  likewise  gone  down  to  augment  the  advance  body  of  horse  and  foot 
under  Col.  Hewlett  at  Huntington. 

Dec.  15, '17,  Gaine.  Three  rebel  sloops  (one  a  Privateer)  made 
their  appearance  off  Setauket  last  Wed.  The  Privateer  was  soon  dri- 
ven ashore  and  taken  by  one  of  His  Majesty's  Ships  at  Old  Man's  (  7 
miles  east )  and  the  crew  with  all  the  rebels  on  board  made  prisoners 
of  war,  consisting  of  64  privates  and  some  officers,  among  them  Cols. 
Webb  and  Ely.  The  same  day  the  other  two  Sloops  run  into  Stony 
Brook  (4  miles  west  of  Setauket)  and  being  unacquainted  got  on  a 
bank.  They  then  landed  two  hundred  men,  who  immediately  marched 
to  Setauket  and  returned  the  same  evening  to  get  off  their  sloop,  but 
their  utmost  efforts  were  ineffectual.  The  next  day  the  whole  body 
went  down  the  Island,  and  about  12  o'clock  passed  Wading  River  (  18 
miles  from  where  they  first  landed). 

4* 


70  ARMED    0CCUPAT10x\    OF 

Col.  Hewlett  with  a  party  of  Gen  Delancey's  Brigade,  Col.  Hamil- 
ton with  a  troop  of  horse  from  Newtown,  and  Capt.  Hewlett  with  his 
troop  of  horse  from  Hempstead,  are  gone  in  pursuit  of  the  rebels,  and  it  is 
hoped  will  give  a  good  account  of  them. 

639.  Jan.  4,  '11.  Ensign  Benj.  Titus  is  recommended  for  a  2d 
Lieutenancy  by  Capt's  Dan'l  GrilFni,  John  Davis,  Dan'l  Roc,  and  Lts. 
Benj  Marvin  and  Silvanus  Conklin.     All  refugees  from  Suffolk. 

Jan.  10, '77.  Abm.  Hand,  Jer.  Miller  and  Col.  Mulford's  negro  Jack 
were  permitted  to  return  to  L.  I!,  also  Jos.  Osborn  and  family.  Feb.  20, 
Ezekiel  and  Dan'l  Howell  petition  to  get  their  effects  from  L.  I.  John 
Mulford  Esq.,  resident  in  Stonington,  returned  with  his  wife  to  his  estate 
on  L.  I.  and  took  one  horse  and  cow.  John  Tuthill  was  in  Conn.  Mar.  '77. 
David  Pierson  Elias  Mathews  Dan'l  Hains 

John  Gelston  Nathan  Fordham         Ezekiel  Howell 

Maltby  Gelston  Aaron  Isaacs,  Jr.  Dan'l  Howell 

Jos.  Tillinghast  Abm.  Rose  Zebedee  Osborn 

Sam'l  L'Hommedieu    Tim.  Mathews  Elisha  Osborn 

John  Miller  Dan'l  Whelden  Silas  Norris 

David  Sayre  Jona.  Howell,    petition  Gov.  Turnbull  to 

remove  flax,  wool,  stock  &c.  from  L.  I.  to  Conn.  Feh.  '11 . 

Petition  of  170  voters,  refugees  from  Suffolk,  now  in  Haddam,  E. 
Haddam,  Lyme,  Saybrook,  Killingworth  and  Guilford,  April,  10,  '77,  was 
presented  to  N.  Y.  Legislature.  They  want  to  be  represented  in  Con- 
vention. 

Saybrook,  June  12, '77.  Petition  of  45  Suffolk  Co.  refugees  for  relief 
and  permission  to  pass  over  to  L.  L  for  forage  for  their  families  and  bread- 
corn  growing  on  their  land  which  otherwise  vvill  fall  into  the  enemy's 
hands. 

Nathan  Benjamin  ;  Zeb.  and  John  Cooper  ;  Jacob,  Nath'l,  Benj.,  and 
David  Conklin  ;  Jesse  Dayton  ;  Dan'l  and  Ephraim  Fordham  ;  Oba. 
and  Wm.  Havens  ;  Robert  Harlow  ;  Recompense  and  Elias  Howell ; 
Jos.  Halliock  ;  Oba.  Jones;  Nath'l,  Ephraim,  Jeremiah,  Joel,  Benj. 
and  John  King  ;  Wm.  L'Hommedieu  ;  John  IMoore  ;  Oliver  North  ;  John 
Paine  ;  Paul  Reeve  ;  John  Jr.  and  Dan'l  Rackett ;  Lewis  Stanborough  ; 
Chris,  and  Sam'l  Tuthill  ;  Amon  Jr.  and  Pederick  Tabor  ;  Tlio's  Ter- 
ry ;  Tho's  Vail  ;  Jesse  Wood  ;  Jas.  and  Craveit  Wells  ;  John,  Jos.  and 
Richard  Youngs. 

640.  Jvhj  3,  '11.  Oba.  Jones,  John  Hurlbnt  and  Tho"s  Bering 
gave  permits  to  refugees  going  to  L.  I. 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  71 

641.  Jan.  3,  '78.  Selah  Strong,  was  incarcerated  with  others  in 
N.  Y.,  where  he  was  detained  some  time,  and  suflfered  severely  for 
want  of  provisions,  Cunningham  not  even  allowing  him  to  partake 
of  the  food  sent  to  him  by  his  wife  from  his  own  house. — Thompson, 
1.419. 

Jan.  3,  '78.  Riv.  Last  Monday,  Selah  Strong  was  committed  to  the 
care  of  the  Provost,  on  a  charge  of  treasonable  correspondence  with  the 
enemy. 

642.  New  London,  Jan.  2,  '78.  130  tories  from  west  end  of  L.  I., 
commanded  by  Col.  Hewlett  came  down  to  Southold,  Oyster  Pond, 
&c.,  and  robbed  the  honest  inhabitants  to  a  large  amount  in  clothing, 
money,  grain,  cattle,  &c.     From  one  man  they  took  £120  in  cash. 

643.  Feh,  16,  '78,  Gaine.  About  two  o'clock  last  Thursday 
morning,  a  party  of  12  rebels  seized  at  Coram,  2  wagons  loaded 
with  dry  goods,  the  property  of  Oba.  Wright  of  South  Hampton. 
These  marauders  had  been  several  days  on  the  Island,  visited  most 
parts  of  the  County  and  committed  many  robberies,  especially  at  the 
house  of  Col.  Floyd,  which  they  robbed  of  goods  and  cash,  to  a  con- 
siderable amount,  and  took  thence  some  property  of  Mr.  Dunbar, 
who  rides  down  the  Island  occasionally  and  happened  to  lodge  in  the 
house  that  night. 

644.  Riv.  Feb.  26,  '78.  Last  Friday  evening  a  small  party  of  re- 
bels, came  from  the  Main  to  Mattituck,  rapaciously  seized  and  carried 
into  Conn,  a  quantity  of  goods,  landed  from  one  of  the  vessels  dri- 
ven ashore  in  the  late  storm.     Neiit  day  a  gang  of  ruffians  ( John 

Clive  Symes,  Peter  Griffen,  Wilmot  Goldsmith,  and  Tuthill, 

late  residents  of  Southold,)  brought  wagons  from  the  east  end  of 
the  Island,  stripped  the  schooner  Clio,  Capt.  Simmons,  of  her  sails, 
rigging,  &c.,  which  they  carried  ofT,  and  have  no  doubt  sent  across 
the  Sound. 

645.  Fishkill,  Mar.  5,  '78.  On  Wed.  night  a  party  of  30  volun- 
teers, from  Col.  Meigs'  Reg.,  in  4  whaleboats  under  command  of 
Major  Humphrey's,  Lts.  Lay  and  Burret,  made  a  descent  on  L.  I.,  in 
the  neighborhood  of  vSmithtown,  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  seve- 
ral of  the  enemy's  shipping,  particularly  a  large  ship  of  20  guns, 
aground  near  that  place.  The  ship  was  unfortunately  got  off'  the 
preceding  day,  but  they  set  fire  to  and  destroyed  a  brig,  of  200  tons 
burthen,  a  large  schooner  and  an  armed  sloop,  all  employed  in  the 


72  ARMED  OCCUPATION    OF 

enemy's  service.  They  brought  off  2  Capt's,  and  several  seamen, 
together  with  as  many  sails,  rigging,  and  furniturej  as  the  boats  could 
contain:  all  effected  without  loss,  and  the  party  returned  to  the 
Main,  next  morning.  The  enterprise  was  well  planned  and  con- 
ducted, and  such  a  one  as  in  Gaine  and  Rivington's  papers,  would 
have  filled  a  column  with  "immenses"  and  "  imlnites, "  and  ex- 
hausted Johnson's  Dictionary,  of  all  those  terms  which  express  en- 
terprise, conduct,  and  resolution. — Con.  Gaz.  Mar.  11.  '78. 

646.  N.  London,  Mar.  8,  '78.  Last  Sabbath  21  sail  of  the  ene- 
my's shipping,  which  have  lain  for  some  weeks  in  Gardiner's  Bay, 
taking  in  wood,  came  to  sail,  and  stood  eastward. 

647.  Gaine,  Mar.  9,  '78.  Moses  Sawyer,  who  fonuerly  lived  at 
iihelter  Island,  came  over  from  the  Main,  a  few  days  since,  and  rob- 
bed the  farm  of  Wm.  Nicoll,  Esq.,  of  said  Island,  of  110  bushels 
of  wheat,  and  carried  off  grain,  belonging  to  Tho's  Dering,  of  Suf- 
folk Co. 

648.  Phineas  Fairbank,  who  had  escaped  from  Worcester  Jail, 
was  taken  by  P.  Griffing,  on  L.  I.  On  him  was  found  a  petition  to 
Tryon  for  the  farm,  with  buildings  and  utensils  thereon,  of  Grover 
Glover,  now  in  rebellion,  and  the  Governor's  reply  : 

To  whom  it  may  concern  :  Permit  Phineas  Fairbank  and  Jer.  Bow- 
en,  to  take  possession  of  the  house  and  piemisea  of  Joshua  Wells, 
(  now  in  rebellion)  at  Southold,  on  condition  they  occupy  the  same,  for 
their  present  use  and  advantage  ;  provided  it  does  not  interfere  with, 
or  is  not  wanted  for  the  King's  service. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  at  arms,  N.  Y.,  March  31,  '78. 

WM.  TRYON,  Gov. 

By  his  Excellency's  command.       B.  J.  JOHNSON,  Pro.  Sec. 

649.  Ap.  11,  was  taken  from  Stonybrook  Harbor  by  2  whale 
boats,  manned  with  13  Continental  troops,  a  sloop  and  schooner, 
loaded  chiefly  with  wood.  The  schooner  is  of  60  tons,  and  armed 
with  4  swivels ;  the  sloop  of  40 :  both  arrived  in  safe  ports  with  4 
prisoners. — iV.  Haven,  Ap.  21,  '78. 

650.  JC40  Currency  Reward.  Stolen  from  Mark  Langdon,  at 
Widow  Blydcnburgh's,  at  the  Branch,  Smithtown,  Ap.  22,  '78,  se- 
veral pieces  of  Taffetas,  Calicoes,  6  pieces  of  Linen  and  otiier  valua- 
ble dry  goods,  together  with  j£200  in  goM  and  silver.     Pedlers  are 


SUFFOLK   COUNTY.  73 

warned  to  take  notice  of  this  advertisement.     Other  small  parties 
were  at  Setauket. — Riv.,  May  13. 

£40  Reward.  Taken  away  by  the  Rebels  from  Mark  Langdon, 
on  May  12  and  20th,  at  Smithtown,  a  large  quantity  of  DRY 
GOODS  and  CASH,  to  the  amount  of  £1000. 

651.  Riv.^  May  16,  '78.  The  rebels  have  constant  information 
by  signals  from  many  disloyal  Islanders  residing  between  Hunting- 
ton  and  Setauket  of  every  vessel  passing  up  the  Sound,  as  w^ell 
as  of  the  situation  of  persons  and  things  in  several  parts  of  L. 
I. ;  and  they  also  convey  all  the  information  their  emissaries  daily 
procure  of  the  several  occurrences  in  N,  Y.  City. 

652.  Riv.,  May  20,  '78.  On  the  evening  of  Monday  se'nnight 
a  party  of  rebels  landed  at  a  harbor  in  Huntington,  and  attacked  the 
house  of  Shubael  Smith,  situated  near  the  w.:tcr  side,  and  carried  off 
Mr.  Stone,  a  gentleman  belonging  to  Col.  Ludlow's  Reg't,  and  se- 
veral other  persons.  They  afterwards  passed  the  houses  of  Jos. 
Lewis  and  Nath'l  Williams,  without  molesting  them,  and  proceeded 
to  that  of  Wm.  Hindford,  a  refugee,  used  his  house  and  store  in  the 
same  manner  they  had  done  Mr.  Smith's,  and  then  returned  to 
Con't  with  the  prisoners  and  booty.* 

*  Shubael  Smith  of  Huntington,  joined  the  enemy  ;  his  ferry  boat  at 
Norwalk  was  seized  by  the  Americans,  Jan.  16,  '77.  Cor.  502. 

653.  iiir.,  iWa?/ 20, '78.  Sunday  night,  10th  inst,  2  whale  boats, 
7  men  in  each,  came  to  Blue  Point,  and  took  thence  5  boats  lying 
there  with  oysters,  owned  by  Tho's  Myng,  Amos  Underbill,  John 
Rapalje,  Sam'l  Toby,  and  Mr.  Cameron.  This  party  was  command- 
ed by  one  Dayton  from  Corum,  and  were  all  well  armed.  They 
brought  their  boats  from  the  N.  side  of  the  Island  and  sent  their  prizes 
to  N.  London.  They  put  some  women  and  children,  and  Tho's 
Myng  ashore. 

. .  ■.  The  head  of  the  Banditti  who  captured  5  vessels  loaded  with  lum- 
ber and  produce  for  tbe  market  of  N.  Y.,  was  Ebenczer  Dayton,  a 
noted  pcdler,  who  lately  lived  at  Corum.  Next  in  command  was 
Wm.  Clark,  formerly  a  rebel  Lt.,  who  had  taken  the  benefit  of 
Howe's  Proclamation  ;  and  after  taking  the  oaths  to  Government,  he 
kept  a  shop  near  B.  Haven,  where,  by  making  j^rivate  lotteries,  &.C., 
he  converted  his  effects  into  cash,  and  about  4  or  5  weeks  ago  eloped 


74  ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF 

to  Conn.     This  party  (14  in  number)  are  a  species  of  plunderers 
distinct  from  the  rebel  troops. 

654.  Eben'r  Piinderson,  a  noted  Tory,  who  made  his  escape 
some  time  ago  from  Groton,  was  employed  and  sent  by  the  commis- 
sary at  N.  Y.  to  exact  of  the  inhabitants  at  E.  End  of  L.  I.  all  the 
grain  which  it  was  possible  for  them  to  spare,  and  had  ordered  them 
by  advertisements  to  meet  him  at  different  places  in  each  town  and 
parish,  to  give  an  account  of  what  grain  they  had  ;  but  his  con- 
science so  terrified  him,  and  fearing  he  should  be  met  by  people  from 
N.  England,  he  ran  off  without  meeting  the  inhabitants  according  to 
appointment. — N.  London,  May  22,  '78. 

E.  Punderson,  at  Newport,  Oct.  14,  '78,  wants  his  family  to  come 
in  the  King's  lines  on  L.  I.,  and  he  was  at  E.  Hampton,  Sept.  21,  '83. 

655.  May  25,  '78.  4  more  whale-boats  have  again  made  their 
appearance  in  Blue  Pt.  Bay,  and  intend  to  prevent  any  boats  re- 
sorting thither ;  they  lay  on  the  beach  and  get  necessaries  from  the 
inhabitants  in  that  neighborhood. — May  25,  Gaine. 

656.  Gaine,  Ju.  15,  '78.  Friday  5th  inst,  Eben.  Dayton,  with  6 
others,  by  stratagem,  took  Mr.  M'Intire's  sloop  whilst  they  lay 
near  Blue  Ft.,  and  stripped  a  sloop  of  Lindley  Murray.  Next  day 
another  party  composed  of  Rogers,  Halsey,  Sayer,  and  White,  col- 
lected at  S.  Hampton  with  a  no.  of  others,  to  prevent  provisions  be- 
ing sent  to  N.  Y. ;  and  that  night  a  party  from  the  ]\Iain  in  a  whale- 
boat  seized  a  sloop  at  the  entrance  of  Brook  Haven  harbor,  with  a 
quantity  of  goods  from  N.  Y.  for  the  use  of  the  inhabitants  of  that 
neighborhood  ;  and  the  same  night  they  plundered  the  house  of 
Philip  Roe,  at  Drowned  Meadows,  3  miles  east,  of  a  considerable 
quantity  of  goods  and  cash. 

Last  Sat.  night  a  party  of  14  armed  men  landed  on  I.  I.,  and  en- 
tered the  house  of  W.  Nicoll,  Esq.,  Islip,  and  robbed  him  of  a  sum 
of  money,  plate,  some  arms,  a  quantity  of  clothing,  and  other  proper- 
ties to  a  very  considerable  amount.  They  appeared  to  be  very  well 
acquainted  in  the  family,  as  they  knew  where  to  find  every  thing 
they  wanted. — June  22,  Gaine. 

657.  New  Lon.,  May  15.  Sunday  night  last,  2  boats  under  the 
command  of  Cap.  Dayton  and  Chester,  with  14  men  in  both,  went  to 
L.  I.,  and  carrying  one  of  the  boats  across  a  narrow  part  of  the  island 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  75 

at  S.  Hamptori;  they  went  about  60  miles  up  the  S.  side  of  the  island 
to  Fire  I.  Inlet,  and  took  possession  of  5  sail  of  coasting  vessels 
which  lay  there,  laden  with  lumber^  oysters,  household  furniture, 
some  dry  goods,  provisions,  &.c.  The  prizes  are  all  safe  arrived. 
More  might  have  been  brought  off,  could  they  have  manned  them. 
Among  the  prisoners  is  a  British  Sergeant. — Gaine,  June  1,  '78. 

Libels  in  favor  of  Dayton  and  others,  were  filed  before  R.  Law, 
Judge  of  the  Maritime  Court,  N.  London  county,  against  the  following 
vessels,  taken  between  high  and  low  water  mark,  viz.  Peggy,  Cha's 
Cameron,  Commander ;  Polly,  Geo.  Hallock ;  George,  Sam'l  Tobey  ; 
Dalancey,  Tho's  Ming ;  Jacob,  Ja's  Smith. 

N.  London,  May  22,  '78.  Tuesday  night  8  whale-boats  arrived 
here  taken  by  Dayton,  S.  side  of  L.  L 

658.  N.  London,  June  12,  '78.  Capt.  E.  Dayton,  in  an  armed 
boat,  carried  3  prizes  (coasters)  into  N.  Haven,  which  he  took  near 
Fire  Island  Inlet. 

Last  Thursday  night  a  party  of  rebels  assembled  at  the  house  of 
one  Wcscr,  8  miles  E.  of  Huntington,  where  one  Robertson,  a  pedler, 
had  lodged,  whom  they  robbed  of  all  his  goods,  and  took  a  sum  of 
money  of  Mr.  Weser. — June  15.  '78,  Gaine. 

659.  June  15,  '78.  Jona  Vail,  in  th^  Revenge,  took  from  one 
Allen,  at  Soiilhold,  a  horse.  Peter  Griffing  took  6  oxen  from  Tho's 
Seaman  and  Mat.  Smith,  July  24. 

660.  June  27,  '78.  Tho's  Fanning,  of  South  Hampton,  brother 
of  Edmund  Fanning,  was  carried  off  last  week  by  a  party  of 
rebels  from  Conn. 

June  20,  '78.  J.  Youngs,  of  Stirling,  writes  to  Nath'l  Shaw  in  be- 
half of  Fanning — says  he  got  Youngs  out  of  prison  in  N.  Y.  T.  F., 
Lt.  and  Q.  M.,  was  exchanged  for  Jos.  Chew,  Esq. 

661.  N.  Haven,  Aug.  5,  '78.  Last  Friday  about  1000  new 
Levies  arrived  at  Huntington,  from  N.  Y.,  said  to  be  a  foraging 
party. 

N.  London,  Aug.  14,  '78.  We  hear  1000  troops  from  N.  Y.  were 
at  the  E.  end  of  L.  I.  a  few  days  ago,  collecting  provisions  for  the  British 
army. 

662.  Fairfield,  Aug.  7,  '78.  Gov.  Tryon  has  marched  down  the 
Island,  and  is  now  at  Setauket  with   1200  men.     He  orders  the 


7()  ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF 

fanners  to  thresh  out  the  grain  immediately.     The  stock  on  L.  I.,  it 
is  expected,  will  be  taken  for  the  Kings's  use. 

N.  London,  Aug.  21,  '78.  A  sergeant  and  5  privates,  deserters  from 
Tryon's  plundering  party,  arrived  here  from  L.  I.  They  say  the  troops 
were  to  set  out  on  their  return,  on  Tuesday  last. 

663.  Avg.  29,  '78,  Rii\  On  Tuesday  se'night,  a  party  of  Rebels 
who  had  crossed  over  from  Con't,  having  concealed  themselves  in  a 
wood  below  Huntington,  fired  upon  3  light  dragoons,  returning  from 
E.  end  of  the  Island,  and  killed  one  of  them  on  the  spot ;  the  other 
two,  with  the  horses,  got  off  unhurt.  A  parly  was  immediately  dis- 
patched from  Huntington  in  quest  of  these  assassins  ;  but  they  es- 
caped over  to  their  brethren,  on  the  other  side  of  the  Sound.  Two 
days  after  this,  a  Lt.  and  a  few  of  the  hands  belonging  to  the  Pri- 
vateer lately  wrecked  on  E.  end  of  L.  L,  were  apprehended  and  pro- 
perly secured. 

664.  Sep.  5,  '78.  I  arrived  last  evening  from  the  East  end  of 
L.  I.,  with  a  detachment  of  near  1000  Provincials,  where  I  had 
marched  to  secure  the  peaceable  behavior  of  the  disaffected  inhabit- 
ants in  that  quarter,  and  assist  the  Commissary  in  obtaining  about 
1000  fat  cattle  for  the  army.  Inclosed  is  the  oath  I  administered  to 
all  the  inhabitants  on  the  north  side  of  the  Island,  giving  them  the 
alternative,  either  to  take  the  oath,  or  remove  with  their  families 
and  furniture  to  Conn.  Not  one  of  the  whole  chose  the  latter ; 
even  the  hottest  rebels  said  my  proposal  was  generous,  which 
convinces  me  that  the  acrimony  of  oj)position  is  much  softened  by 
the  late  concessions  of  Government.  .  Tryon. 

665.  Last  Sat.  sundry  inhabitants  of  Huntington  were  brought  to 
our  jail  for  piloting  the  rebels  in  their  different  excursions  from  Con't 
on  L.  I.     Gaine,  Sep.  14,  '78. 

666.  Oct  8,  '78.  I  have,  in  a  2d  excursion,  brought  all  the  in- 
habitants on  the  E.  end  of  L.  I.,  as  far  as  Montank  Point,  under  an 
oath  of  peaceable  behavior  to  his  Majesty's  Government,  and  with 
good  humor.  Tryon. 

[Major  Isaac  Reeve  was  informed  against  by  Maj.  Parker  Wickham. 
When  the  light  horse,  led  by  Tories,  first  came  to  his  house,  he  escaped. 
Soon  after  he  was  taken  and  pinioned  at  his  own  house,  and  carried  be- 
fore Tryon  at  Mattituck,  2  miles  distant,  and  threatened  to  be  hung  on 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  77 

a  big  tree  there.  He  refused  at  first  to  give  up,  but  at  the  solicitation  of 
his  father  James,  he  took  the  oath,  but  spurned  the  Bible  from  his  lips. 
Major  Reeve  was  afterwards  appointed  Commissary,  a  post  that  gave 
him  an  opportunity  of  favoring  many  poor  Whigs. 

John  Benjamin  said  to  Mr.  Reeve,  "  Are  you  going  to  take  the 
oath  1"  "  Yes."  "  I  wont."  "  You  must."  "  No,  I  wont."  When 
Benjamin's  turn  came,  he  was  asked  his  occupation.  "  A  Presbyte- 
rian." "I  mean,  what  is  your  business?"  "A  Presbyterian." 
"  What  do  you  bring  this  fool  here  for  1"  said  Tryon,  "  Take  him 
away." — Ed.] 

667.  N.  London,  Sep.  18,  '78.  Major  Eben'r  Gray,  with  a  party 
of  Col.  Meigs'  Reg.,  went  to  Huntington  on  L.  I.,  and  brought  off 
16  prisoners,  disaffected,  (who  had  gone  over  to  the  enemy  from 
this  state)  ;  3  others  were  killed,  and  2  made  their  escape. 

Sep.  19,  '78,  Eiv.  Last  Tues.  se'nnight,  a  number  of  armed  rebels  in 
20  whale-boats  came  over  from  Norwalk  and  landed  at  Oak  Neck  in 
Huntington,  and  attacked  the  house  of  the  Widow  Chichester,  in  which 
25  refugees  were   quartered,  who  made  some   resistance,  but  were  soon 

overpowered.     2  of  them,  Capt.  Coffin  and Lyon,  were  killed,  one 

badly  wounded,  16  made  prisoners  ;   the  rest  made  their  escape. 

668.  Oct.  10,  '78.  Buel  writes  to  Gov.  Trumbull  that  Tryon 
wants  to  exchange  rum,  sugar,  molasses,  tea,  and  whatever  may 
please  the  ladies,  for  beef. 

669.  N.  London,  Oct.  16,  '78.  30  Sail  of  woodmen  arrivecT  at 
Newport  from  L.  L 

670.  Last  Tuesday  afternoon  3  men  in  a  small  schooner,  with  4 
swivels  and  a  cohorn,  was  attacked  by  2  whale-boats  with  about  10 
men  in  each  at  Fire  Place.  The  boats  went  up  with  full  resolution 
to  board  the  schooner,  and  when  within  about  20  yards,  they  received 
such  a  dose  from  the  cohorn,  as  obliged  them  to  sheer  off,  when  most 
of  their  oars  were  seen  to  drop  by  the  people  on  shore  who  were  spec- 
tators of  the  action,  which  was  well  fought  on  both  sides ;  but  the 
boats,  after  having  9  of  their  men  killed  and  several  wounded,  were 
obliged  to  return  to  the  shore.     Gahm,  Nov.  2,  '78. 

671.  David  Landon  took  dry  goods  on  L.  L,  near  Southold,  Nov. 
6,  '78,  in  possession  of  David  Howell,  now  of  Killingworth. 


78  ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF 

From  a  Privateer  off"  Smithioicn,  Nov.  28,  '78. 

672.  "  We  have  cleared  the  Bay  of  the  piratical  crew  that  in- 
fested it,  and  look  upon  the  greater  part  of  the  inhabitants  to  be  dis- 
affected to  Gov't,  and  beUeve  they  give  every  intelligence,  as  well  as 
subsistence  to  the  rebel  party."     Riv.  Dec.  2. 

673.  14  days  since  a  prize  Brig  came  ashore  opposite  St.  George's 
Manor,  loaded  with  tobacco.  Friday  following  a  privateer  sloop  and 
4  whale-boats  from  N.  London  appeared  in  the  Bay,  and  were  seen 
to  ply  between  the  prize  and  privateer,  and  'tis  supposed,  carried  off 
part  of  the  cargo.  Next  day  the  boats  made  an  attack  on  a  schooner 
and  a  sloop  that  had  arrived  from  N.  York,  but  were  repulsed  by 
both ;  when  Mr.  Dayton,  who,  'tis  said,  commanded  the  boats,  car- 
ried his  wounded  men  ashore  to  the  house  of  Capt.  Josiah  Smith,  of 
Moriches,  and  the  privateer  sloop  driving  ashore,  was  taken  by  the 
people  belonging  to  the  2  small  vessels  from  N.  Y.  Gaine,  Nov. 
30,  '78. 

674.  Dec.  2,  '78.  Riv.  Last  Friday  night,  a  few  minutes  after 
Col.  Benj.  Floyd,  of  Setauket,  had  gone  to  bed,  George,  son  of  Job 
Smith,  of  Smithtown,  and  Isaac,  son  of  Epenetus  Smith,  with  12 
others  beset  the  house,  and  George  obliged  a  domestic  to  show  him 
whore  the  Col.  slept,  whom  he  surprised  and  led  to  the  thieves 
waiting  at  the  door.  They  then  triumphantly  hurried  him  over  to 
Norwalk. 

675.  Capt.  Eben.  Dayton,  in  the  sloop  Ranger  of  45  men,  6  car- 
riage guns,  and  12  swivels,  blunderbusses,  muskets,  hand  grenadoes 
(to  throw  on  the  deck  of  the  vessel  attacked  as  they  run  her  aboard 
with  whale-boats),  was  taken  in  South  Bay,  [Nov.  20,  '78]  by  Capt. 
Stout  of  a  N.  Y.  Privateer,  and  brought  to  N.  Y.  Wed.  las^.  Riv. 
Dec.  5,  '78. 

676.  The  Betsey,  Capt.  Wm.  Seaman,  was  taken  near  Oyster 
Bay,  Dec.  5,  '78,  with  cargo  of  wood,  plank,  flour,  &c. 

677.  Petitions  of  Suffolk  Co.  Refugees,  in  Conn. 

'78.  Jona.  Hatens,  Dan'l  and  Nathan  Fordham,  Benj.  Conklin, 
Paul  and  Step.  Howell,  Francis  Furnier  and  Son,  and  Thos.  Currier — 
refugees  from  L.  I ,  brought  over  their  effects,  [to  Lyme  ?] 

Of/. '78.     David  Parsons,  in  service  of  U.  S.,  1776,  transported 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  79 

his  family  from   S.  Hampton  to  E.  Haddara, — has  wheat  he  cannot  ge« 
off,  but  can  exchange  for  salt  or  steel — has  liberty  to  go. 

Capt.  Jer.  Rogers,  of  L.  I.,  is  now  (May  6,  '78,)  at  Killingworth,  in 
whale-boat  business. 

Jas.  Sayre,  of  L.  I.,  now  at  Saybrook,  wants  to  engage  in  the  illicit 
trade.  Oct.  12,  '78. 

Capt.  David  Howell,  of  S.  Hampton,  Silvanus  Howell,  and  Jos. 
Youngs,  who  fled  from  L.  I.  to  Killingworth,  in  the  fall  of '76,  want  to  go 
over  to  L.  I.  They  were  plundered  of  produce  on  L.  I.  by  Capt.  Grif- 
fing,  and  pray  Gov.  Trumbull  for  relief.     Nov.  11,  '78. 

Orange  Webb,  late  of  L.  I.,  at  N.  London  ;  John  Miller,  at  E.  Had- 
dam  ;  John  Hudson,  of  Sag  Harbor,  at  Stonington  ;  Thos.  Dering,  of 
Shelter  I.  ;  and  Rich.  Howell,  of  S.  Hampton  are  on  the  Main  ;  Oba. 
Guildersleeve,  of  Sag  Harbor  ;  Benj.  Paine,  of  Southold ;  B.  Y. 
Prime,  at  N.  Haven  ;  Oba.  Haven,  of  Shelter  I.  at  Saybrook  ;  Ezekiel 
Sandford,  at  E.  Haddam  ;  Thos.  Lester,  killed  by  a  wad  at  N.  London  ; 
Mary  King,  at  Middletown  ;  Mr.  Burnet  Miller,  at  Stonington ;  Josiah 
Smith,  at  N.  London.  Nov.  1,  '76,  to  Oct.  1,  '78. 

Ap.  22,  '79.  Thos.  Dering,  Middletown,  wants  to  go  to  L.  L  for 
effects. 

Aug.  24,  '79.  Rev.  Henry  Van  Dyck,  at  Norwalk,  wants  to  go  to 
L.  I.  with  his  family.  [H.  V.  D.,  taken  prisoner  by  Capt.  Fitch,  before 
Oct.  '82.] 

Sep.  '79.  Gains  Gardiner  and  Henry  Booth,  of  L.  L,  at  Norwich. 
iVoc. '79.  Hugh  and  Wm.Gelston, petition  to  winter  their  horses  on  L.L 
Nov.  2,  '79.  Joua.  Osborn,  of  Southold,  seized  and  brought  over   by 
Peter  Griffin,  June  14,  as  a  person  unfriendly  to  U.  S.,  wishes  his  ap- 
parel   and  liberty — negatived. 

May  24,  '79.  Jas.  Curren,  of  Southold,  to  Guilford,  asks  relief  from 
taxation. 

John  Hubbard,  from  Southold,  makes  a  deposition  respecting  Dan'l 
Dibble,  a  refugee.  No  date. 

Gershom   Culver  and  Thos.  Tapping,  have  permits,  Nov.  16,  '79,  to 
bring  off  from  L.  L  some  flour  and  grain,  the  produce   of  their  land. 
Dec.  3,  '79.  Hugh  Gelston  allowed  to  go  to  L.  L  for  300  bushels  of  salt, 
without  carrying  goods,  produce  or  money. 

Hartford,  June  10,  '79.  Jesse  Wood  petitions  to  go  to  S.  Hampton 
for  proceeds  of  his  house  and  lot ;  Aaron  Isaacs  to  E.  Hampton,  for  horse 
and  flax  ;  Hannah  While  for  clothing  ;  Wm.  Philips  for  his  own,  and  Col. 
Wm.  Floyd's  and  Ezra  L'Hommedieu's  effects  ;  John  Pelletreau  for 
the  effects  of  his  father. 


80  ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF 

678.  Riv.  Jan.  20,  '79.  Last  Sat.  se'niiight,  3  whale-boats  with 
detachments  from  Meigs  and  Willis's  Continental  Reg.,  under  com- 
mand of  a  Capt.  and  Lt.,  came  from  Greenwich,  Cont.,  with  intention 
to  secrete  themselves  in  Huntington  Bay,  until  an  opportunity  offered 
to  interrupt  vessels  on  their  passage  to  this  city  ;  but  a  violent  gale 
arising,  obliged  them  to  make  for  the  nearest  part  of  L.  I.,  in  attain- 
ing which  one  of  their  number  containing  7  privates  and  a  Capt.  was 
lost,  and  the  crew  perished.  The  other  2  as  soon  as  they  struck  the 
ground,  hauled  up  their  boats  and  covered  them  with  branches.  After 
lying  26  hours  concealed,  they  were  discovered  by  a  soldier  of  Gen . 
Delancey's  Regt.,  who  immediately  got  assistance  and  secured  them  at 
the  very  instant  they  were  ready  to  push  off.  They  were  brought 
to  town  on  Thursday  last. 

679.  Feb.  1,  '79.  Capt.  Elderkin  took  the  sloop  Mary  Ann,  28 
tons,  navigated  by  Stent  Raymond,  in  Huntington  Harbor,  below 
high-water  mark. 

680.  N.  London,  Feb.  5,  '79.  Last  Sat.,  the  Ranger,  a  British 
Privateer  Brig  of  12  guns  that  had  been  cruising  in  the  Sound,  was 
taken  from  a  wharf  at  Sag  Harbor,  after  a  short  resistance,  by  the 
Brig  Middleton,  Capt.  Sage,  sloop  Beaver,  Capt.  Havens,  sloop 
Eagle,  Capt.  Conklin. 

On  Sunday  these  3  again  sailed  for  Sag  Harbor,  where  they 
discovered  7  British  vessels  just  arrived — one  a  brig  of  8  or  10  guns, 
when  a  fair  prospect  appeared  of  making  capture  of  the  whole  ;  bu*: 
wind  ahead,  the  Middleton  struck  on  the  Middle  Ground,  in  beating 
up  the  harbor,  |  of  a  mile  from  the  shore,  where  she  was  bravely  de- 
fended for  4  or  5  hours  by  her  crew  against  an  incessant  fire  from 
the  brig  and  several  field-pieces  on  shore  :  after  being  hulled  by  30 
shots,  several  under  water,  and  the  vessel  careening  by  the  tide's  fall- 
ing, the  guns  could  not  be  worked,  all  except  4  left  the  ship  and  were 
taken  on  board  the  other  2  vessels. 

These  on  their  return,  took  2  brigs  from  Cork,  via.  N.  Y.  with 
rum,  wine,  and  12,000  bushels  of  oats  for  tlie  troops  on  the  East  end 
of  Long  Island. 

ITog  Neck,  11  o'clock  at  night,  Feb.  1,  '79. 

Sir  : — At  daybreak  the  Brig  Middleton  and  2  Sloops  of  14  and  10 
guns  each,  were  seen  standing  in  for  Sag  Harbor.  Betwixt  8  and  9 
they  came  within   cannon  shot  of  the  King's  armed  vessel,  which  fired 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  81 

3  shots  ahead  of  them,  neither  of  which  being  answered,  the  Neptune 
fired  at  them,  which  was  returned  on  their  side,  hoisting  rebel  colors, 
and  still  standing  on  until  they  came  within  reach  of  the  guns  on  shore, 
which  having  thrown  a  few  12  pound  shot  at  them,  they  stood  out  from 
the  Harbor,  towards  the  end  of  Hog  Neck  :  long  shot  was  then  ex- 
changed for  some  time,  till  the  rebel  Brig  having  the  appearance  of 
being  aground,  or  having  met  with  some  accident,  a  12  pounder  was 
moved  down  to  the  end  of  Long  Wharf,  which  being  nearly  on  a  level 
with  the  water,  had  the  effect  of  deterring  the  sloops  from  giving  her 
much  assistance  :  while  I  crossed  over  to  Hog  Neck  with  the  infantry 
of  the  British  Legion,  and  the  3  pounder  attached  to  it,  from  whence  we 
bore  with  such  advantage  on  her,  that  she  struck  to  us,  but  unfortunate- 
ly having  5  whale  boats  on  board,  all  the  crew  got  off  except  3,  and  the 
sloops  immediately  left  the  Bay.     We   met  with  but   one   accident,  a 

corporal  being  wounded. 

CHAS.  COCHRAN, 

31aj.  B.  Legion,  Commanding  Troops  at  S.  H. 
To  Sir  W.  Erskine. 

[Maj.  Cochran  was  killed  at  Yorktown. — Ed, 

681.  Caution  lo  Travellers  on  L.  I. 

,o  A  party  of  Rebels  have  a  place  of  resort  at  Bread  and  Cheese 
Hollow,  on  a  bye  road  that  leads  from  the  houses  of  2  men  now  in  re- 
bellion, viz. :  Nath'l  Piatt  and  Thos.  Treadwell,  to  that  of  the  noted 
Sam'l  Philips,  near  the  Branch,  They  extend  along  the  road  from 
said  Philips'  to  the  well-known  Piatt  Carll's,  and  have  stopped  several 
persons  on  horseback  and  in  wagons,  and  robbed  a  number  of  houses 
in  Smithtown,  and  Islip,  within  the  last  10  days.  They  are  said  to  be 
commanded  by  a  rebel  Maj.  Brush,  formerly  of  Huntington.  Two  of 
these  thieves  are  known  to  be  Nich.  Tillotson  and  Steph.  Woodhull, 
(the  former)  son  of  Dan'l  Tillotson  of  the  Branch,  owner  of  the  barn 
formerly  mentioned  in  this  paper,  which  the  Rebels  make  use  of  as  a 
look-out  to  waylay  passengers.  The  unfortunate  Loyalists  in  this 
part  of  the  country  are  greatly  exposed  to  the  savage  cruelty  of  these 
assassins.  Tliey  are  few  in  number,  and  unable  to  defend  them- 
selves from  the  frequent  incursions  of  the  parties  who  land  from 
Cont.j  and  who  are  harbored  and  supplied  with  provisions  and 
intelligence  by  their  confederates  above  mentioned. 

Riv.  Mar.  10,  '79. 


82  ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF 

682.  Feb.  16,  '79.  14  companies  light  infantry  (700)  at  South- 
ampton. 

Gen.  Clinton  at  Southampton  with  about  2500  troops  ;  25  sails  in 
and  near  Sag  Harbor  ;   12  or  14  driven  on   Gardeners  I.  by  a  gale. 

N.  London,  Mar.  25,  '79. 
JY.  London,  Mar.  5, '79.    The  enemy  at  E.  end  of  L.  I.  are  building 
flat  boats  for  the  invasion  of  this  State.     A  reinforcement  of  1500  lately 
arrived  there  from  N.  Y.    Ap.  1. — 31  sail  came  down  Sound  from  N.  Y. 
and  went,  it  is  said,  into  Sag  Harbor. 

Mar.  31,  '79.  We  hear  Gen.  Clinton,  with  3  or  400  troops,  lately 
marched  from  N.  Y.  to  the  E.  end  of  L.  I.,  and  joined  those  who  had 
been  there  several  weeks,  said  to  amount  in  the  whole  to  3  or  4000. 

Ap.  7,  '79.  10  days  since.  Gen.  Clinton  in  haste  returned  to  N.  Y. 
accompanied  by  a  small  guard,  for  fear  the  French  would  attack  New 
York.  British  troops  on  L.  I.,  'tis  said,  are  commanded  by  General 
Vaughan. — New  Haven  paper. 

[A  soldier,  by  permission,  was  carrying  a  white  bag  of  peaches  from 
the  orchard  of  Mrs.  Hunting,  at  E.  Hampton,  when  Nath'l  D.,  suppos- 
ing he  had  a  goose  under  his  arm,  fired  and  killed  him.  Domini  at  first 
determined  to  stand  a  trial,  (conscious  of  his  innocence,)  but  by  advice 
of  his  friends,  fled. — Ed.'\ 

N.  London,  Ap.  15,  '79.  5  French  prisoners  escaped  here  from  L. 
I.,  who  say  there  are  only  500  foot  and  50  horse  at  Southold,  and  100 
men  at  Sag  Harbor  with  2  field-pieces,  which  force  is  kept  there  to  faci- 
litate the  taking  off"  wood  and  hay  from  Sag  Harbor.  A  fleet  of  1 6  sail  of 
wood  vessels,  and  a  12  gun  brig  lie  there,  and  a  ship  with  provisions  lately 
from  N.  Port.  Before  her  arrival  provisions  were  so  scarce,  that  the  in- 
habitants were  obliged  to  kill  poor  milch  cows  for  food,  and  the  troops 
sickly.  Gen.  Clinton  was  returning  to  N.  Y.,  after  throwing  up  some 
breastworks,  &c.,  in  consequence  of  a  report  that  Gen.  Parsons  was 
preparing  for  an  attack  on  Sag  Harbor  with  4000  troops. 

Mr.  Buel  was  on  friendly  and  intimate  terms  with  Gov.  Tryon  ; 
and  from  his  lively  disposition,  ready  wit,  and  fondness  for  the  chase, 
was  a  favorite  with  Sir  Wm.  Erskine,  and  often  had  it  in  his  power  to 
soften  the  severity  of  war.  Sir  William,  one  Saturday,  said  to  Mr. 
Buel,  "  I  have  ordered  the  people  of  your  parish  to  appear  with  their 
teams  at  Southampton  to-morrow."  Mr.  B.  replied,  "  I  know  it,  but 
as  I  am  commander-in-chief  on  the  Sabbath,  I  have  annulled  the  or- 
der."    Sir  William  did  not  insist. 

Mr.  Buel  frequently  joined  the  parties  of  the  British  ofilcers,  which 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  83 

he  enlivened  by  humorous  anecdotes  and  agreeable  conversation.  Once 
when  he  was  behind  the  appointed  hour  for  a  deer-hunt.  Sir  Wm.  had 
detained  the  party.  Tired  of  waiting,  they  had  now  mounted,  when 
seeing  his  friend  Buel  approaching.  Sir  Wm.  ordered  his  men  to  dis- 
mount to  receive  him.  Lord  Percy,  an  aid,  while  impatiently  pacing 
the  floor,  was  introduced  to  Mr.  Buel,  who  thereupon  asked  him  what 
portion  of  His  Majesty's  forces  he  had  the  honor  to  command  ?  "A 
legion  of  devils  just  from  hell."  "  Then,"  said  Mr.  Buel  with  a  low 
bow,  "  I  suppose  I  have  the  honor  of  addressing  Beelzebub,  the  prince 
of  devils  !"  His  lordship  put  his  hand  on  his  sword.  This  was  rebuked 
by  Sir  Wm.,  and  the  laugh  turned  on  Percy,  who,  after  a  while,  was 
restored  to  good  humor  by  the  marked  attention  of  the  parson. — Prime, 
179. 

N.  London,  May  11,  '79.  16  sail  came  out  of  Gardiner's  Bay  and 
stood  for  N.  Y. — supposed  to  be  woodmen  for  N.  York. 

683.  May  11,  '79.  David  Gardiner  of  Southold,  was  robbed  of 
£40  cash,  and  Widow  Case  and  her  son  of  goods  and  clothes.  Pe- 
ter Griffing  recovered  and  restored  them. 

684.  Gaine,  May  31,  '79.  The  house  of  Wm.  Nicoll,  Esq.,  of 
Islip,  was  robbed  of  sundry  sorts  of  goods  to  the  amount  of  many 
hundreds,  by  a  party  from  Conn,  a  fortnight  ago,  May  18,  under 
Eben'r  Drake  and  Capt.  Peter  Foster. 

685.  Riv.  Ju.  9,  '79.  Suffolk  Co.,  May  31.—"  Since  the  de- 
parture of  Sir  W.  Erskine  and  the  troops  under  his  command  from 
this  place,  we  have  been  continually  plundered  both  by  land  and  wa- 
ter, by  a  set  of  (worse  than  savage)  rebels.  They  are  become  so  bold 
as  to  attack  us  at  noonday  as  well  as  at  midnight.  The  great  quantity 
of  goods  carried  from  N.  Y.  to  this  county,  I  think,  is  the  cause  of 
inviting  the  rebels  over.  There  is  a  set  (of  what  we  call  traders)  in 
your  town  (N.  Y.),  who  are  concerned  with  a  number  of  disaffected 
persons  in  carting  goods  to  the  different  parts  of  this  county." — A 
Loyal  Subject. 

686.  Gaine,  Ju.  14,  '79.  On  Sunday  evening,  June  6,  a  party 
of  rebels  and  plunderers  entered  the  house  of  W.  Nicholl,  jr.,  Islip, 
and  stripped  it  of  all  the  furniture  and  clothing  that  were  valuable ; 
after  which  they  proceeded  to  the  house  of  Ob.  and  John  Greene, 
and  robbed  them  of  about  £140  value.     These  villains  are  commis- 


84  ARMED    OCCUPATION  OF 

sioned  by  Gov.  Trnmbnll  to  take  every  thing  below  highwater  mark. 
There  beuig  no  vessels  at  present  m  South  Bay  for  them  to  take, 
rather  than  return  without  booty,  they  have  robbed  old  Mr.  Nicholl's 
family  several  times  to  a  considerable  amount- 
GST.  June  16,  '79.  Every  6th  man  drafted  on  L.  I.  from  16  to 
60,  in  consequence  of  our  fleet  [French]  off  Sandy  Hook. 

688.  Rii.  July  3,  '79.  "  Suffolk  Co.,  Ju.  21.  The  most  notori- 
ous Rebels  boast  they  can  have  goods  from  N.  Y.  as  usual.  Several  of 
our  inhabitants  entertain  and  join  with  the  plundering  parties.  Last 
week  a  party  of  Rebels  had  a  feast  at  the  house  of  Benj.  Havens  at 
Moriches,  (a  most  pernicious  caitiff,)  and  several  of  the  inhabitants 
attended  at  this  frolic,  Wm.  Philips,  Benajah  Strong,  (who  was 
privy  to  the  murder  of  Maurice  Seaman,  at  Islip,)  and  Caleb  Brews- 
ter, gave  this  entertainment. 

689.  Huntington.  The  friends  of  Government  here  have  been 
greatly  distressed  ever  since  the  King's  troops  left  the  E.  end  of  L. 
I. ;  the  rebellious  part  of  the  inhabitants  in  this  town,  who  were  kept 
in  awe  while  the  troops  were  stationed  E.  of  us,  are  now  become 
more  insolent  than  ever,  and  publicly  threaten  to  have  all  the  loyal- 
ists carried  off  to  Con't.  The  principal  of  these  miscreants  are 
Nath'l  Williams,  Stephen  Kelsey,  Eliphalet  Chichester,  John  Brush, 
Jonas  Rogers,  Marlboro  Burtis,  and  Israel  Wood  ;  several  of  whom 
smuggled  goods  out  of  N.  Y.  to  this  place  for  the  sole  purpose  of 
supplying  the  rebels  in  Con't. 

These  scoundrels  live  in  perfect  safety,  w^hen  scarcely  a  night 
passes  but  some  of  their  loyal  neighbors  are  plundered  by  the  sons 
and  other  relations  of  those  rebels  who  fled  to  Con't  when  the  King's 
troops  landed  on  the  Island.  I  hope  you  will  keep  a  good  look-out  for 
these  traitors,  if  they  should  have  the  assurance  to  return  again  to 
your  city  to  buy  goods  ;  and  if  we  should  be  so  happy  as  to  have 
any  troops  quartered  in  this  part  of  the  county  again,  I  hope  in  God 
these  perjured  villains  will  be  made  to  rue  the  day  they  entered  into 
rebellion  against  the  best  of  kings. — Gaine,  Ju.  28,  1779. 

690.  July  21,  '79.  The  British  put  powder  in  the  cellar  and 
blew  up  the  house  lately  improved  by  John  Brown,  on  Fisher's  I,, 
fired  the  out-houses,  hay,  &c. 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  85 

691.  Spies  on  L.  I.  June  27, '79.  Washington  sends  to  Col.  Tall- 
madge  10  guineas  for  Culper,  Jr.,  whose  accounts  are  clear,  intelligent, 
and  satisfactory. — Sparks,  \i.  278. 

July  5,  '79.  Washington  is  sorry  that  Tallraadge  lost  his  letter,  but 
will  replace  the  guineas.  T.  must  notify  H.  in  the  Bowery,  of  the  loss. 
—Sparks,  vi.  285. 

Sep.  24,  '79.  Washington  wishes  spies  to  write  their  information 
on  margin  of  almanacs,  reviews,  pamphlets,  &c.,  or  on  blank  leaves  at 
the  end  ;  or  write  a  familiar  letter  in  tory  style,  and  interline  with  a 
stain  their  private  intelligence. 

Feb.  5,  '80.  W.  sends  20  guineas  and  2  vials  of  stain  and  counter- 
part of  stain,  for  Culper,  Jr. — Sparks,  vi.  460. 

Col.  T.  opened  a  secret  correspondence  (for  Washington)  with  some 
persons  in  N.  Y.  and  Abraham  WoodhuU  of  Setauket,  which  lasted 
through  the  war.  He  kept,  one  or  more  boats  constantly  employed  in 
cruising  the  Sound  on  this  business. —  Thomspon,  ii.  483. 

In  summer  of  '83,  Major  T.  went  to  N.  Y.  under  sanction  of  a  flag, 
to  grant  protection  to  those  who  had  transmitted  intelligence  of  the 
enemy's  doings  from  time  to  time  during  the  war.  Thus  these  spies 
and  private  emissaries  were  saved  from  the  insults  of  their  countrymen, 
who,  on  entering  the  city,  might  have  treated  them  with  indignity  in- 
stead of  merited  respect. — Simms,  547. 

Isaac  Whippo,  Geo.  Smith,  Silvanus  Dickerson,  refugee  Whigs  from 
L.  I.  The  last  two  obtained  pensions  for  secret  service  as  spies.  They 
had  free  access  to  the  city  of  N.  Y., — bought  goods.  Stratford,  notori- 
ous for  illicit  trade,  exported  to  L.  I.  small  articles — hams,  eggs,  butter, 
cheese,  and  small  stock  of  all  kinds.  Some  boats  were  captured  and 
condemned  ;  men  set  at  liberty.     Owners  sold  all  kinds  of  goods. 

692.  Was  murdered  at  Islip,  June  18,  Morris  Simmons,  a  refu- 
gee from  Duchess  Co.,  who  occupied  the  farm  of  one  Strong,  a 
rebel,  supposed  by  3  villains,  who  first  wounded  him  with  a  pistol  in 
the  knee,  stabbed  him  in  several  places,  and  then  beat  his  brains  out 
with  an  axe.  As  he  lived  alone,  he  was  not  found  till  next  day. — 
Gaine,  July  5,  '79. 

[He  had  notice  to  quit. — Ed.] 

Suffolk  Co.,  Aug.  4,  '79. 
G93.  By  a  late  proclamation,  all  persons  going  to  and  from  N. 
Y,  must  have  a  pass ;  I  find  several  persons  have  surreptitiously  ob- 
5 


86  ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF 

tained  them ;  the  loyalists  of  this  county  not  daring  to  oppose,  as 
their  lives  and  property  lie  entirely  at  the  mercy  of  the  Con't  rebels. 
Several  persons  from  Queens,  (notoriously  disaffected,)  have  lately 
moved  into  this  county  for  the  purpose  of  trading  with  their  rebel 
connections  in  the  Con't  towns. — Riv.,  Avg.  24,  '79. 

694.  Riv.,  Aug.  14,  '79.  A  party  of  rebels,  with  their  faces 
blacked,  entered  the  house  of  Fred.  Hudson,  Esq.,  of  Suffolk 
Co.,  on  Friday  night,  6th  inst.,  and  robbed  him  of  provisions,  clothing 
and  bedding  to  the  amount  of  £200  and  upu^ards,  scarcely  leaving 
the  family  their  wearing  apparel.  This  is  the  fourth  time  Mr.  H. 
has  been  plundered  since  his  captivity. 

695.  £5  Reward. — Taken  out  of  the  lots  of  Dan'l  Blatsy,  one 
mile  from  Piatt  Carll's,  Huntington,  a  horse  and  mare,  &c. — Aug.  16, 
'79.     Gaine. 

696.  To  be  sold  at  Auction,  |th  or  y^^th  part  of  the  Privateer 
Sir  A.  Hammond,  sailed  from  Huntington,  14th  inst.,  on  a  cruise, 
14  six-pounders,  completely  victualled  and  manned,  and  fitted  with 
close  quarters. — Aug.  23,  '79.     Gaine. 

697.  40  privateers  at  Huntington,  owned  by  Tory  refugees,  com- 
manded by  one  Hatch,  of  Mass. — N.  London,  Aug.  25,  '79. 

698.  Riv.,  Oct.  2,  '79. — N.  Loud.,  Sep.  22.  A  requisition  hav- 
ing been  made  to  Gen.  Delancey,  of  L.  I.  Militia,  to  furnish  500 
men,  to  parade  \^ith  their  blankets  on  Aug.  23,  to  march  for  Brook- 
lyn, to  be  employed  in  repairing  and  constructing  new  w^orks  there  ; 
210  of  which  were  to  be  from  Suffolk  County,  who  were  also  to 
furnish  and  send  to  the  magazine  at  Brooklyn,  5,000  fascines,  9  ft. 
long,  and  stripped  of  leaves  ;  25,000  pickets,  from  3  to  4  ft.  long ; 
6,000  fraisings  or  stockades,  from  9  to  10  ft.  long,  and  6  to  8  in. 
thick  ;  5,000  railing  of  6  or  7  ft. 

The  inhabitants  having  refused  to  comply,  the  following  letter 
was  sent  to  Gen.  Delancey  : 

JV.  Y.  Aug.  26,  '79. 
Sir: — You  will  signify  to  the  people  of  Suffolk  Co.  that  if  the  requi- 
sition is  not  immediately  complied  with  a  detachment  of  troops  will  be 
sent  into  that  district,  and  every  person  who  shall  refuse  shall  be  turned 
out  of  L.  I.,  and  their  farms  will  be  all  for  the  support  of  those  who 
have  suffered  from  real  attachment  to  Government. 

RAWDON,  Ad.  Gen. 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  87 

Sep.  22,  '79.  N.  London  Gaz.  Last  Friday  35  young  men  came 
from  L.  I.  to  Saybrook,  who  left  their  homes  on  account  of  being  or- 
dered to  work  on  the  fortifications  on  the  west  end  of  L.  I.,  apprehend- 
ing they  should  be  ordered  thence  to  the  West  Indies. 

699.  Aug.  28,  '79.  Rii.  Aug.  14,  a  party  of  about  20  rebels 
made  their  appearance  at  Corum,  and  took  2  of  Isaac  [or  Isaiah] 
Smith's  sons.  Thence  they  proceeded  6  miles  westward  to  the 
house  of  Isaac  Smith,  and  also  made  him  and  3  more  of  his  sons 
prisoners.  Mr.  S.  threw  one  of  the  rebels  over  the  stoop  and  made 
his  escape.  Thence  they  proceeded  to  B.  Haven  Town  and  stopped 
at  John  Baley's,  w^here  they  remained  some  time.  Thence  they 
went  to  Crane  Neck,  3  miles  west  of  B.  Haven,  where  their  boats 
lay.  Between  this  place  and  Crane  Neck  one  of  Mr.  Smith's  sons 
made  his  escape.  Next  morning  their  boats  were  seen  near  Crane 
Neck.  The  same  day  a  party  of  militia  were  in  motion,  and  their 
orders  were  to  march  to  Drowned  Meadow,  3  miles  east  of  B. 
Haven. — The  well  known  Eben.  Dayton  was  at  the  head  of  this 
party,  2  of  the  sons  of  Israel  Conklin,  of  Huntington  South,  Stephen 
Woodhull,  of  B.  Haven,  the  noted  Isaac  Smith,  of  Corum,  (  com- 
monly called  Petticoat  Isaac, )  and  one  of  his  sons  :  the  two  latter 
joined  the  rebels  about  3  months  ago.  Mr.  Petticoat  Isaac  has  been 
remarkably  industrious  in  harboring  and  supplying  the  Rebels  with 
provisions  and  intelligence. 

The  above  party  made  their  appearance  at  Corum.,  at  noon-day, 
and  ordered  Isaac  Smith's  family  to  depart  from  that  place,  by  Tues- 
day following,  otherv/ise  their  house  should  be  destroyed  by  fire. 
I.  S.  is  the  only  Loyalist  in  the  whole  district  of  Corum. 

700.  Capt.  Elias  Glover  left  Conn,  after  the  passage  of  Treason 
Act,  Sep.  10,  '79,  and  was  captured  by  Major  Talmadge,  at  Lloyd's 
Neck. — Sef.  '79, 

701.  Chatham,  Sep.  28.  '79.  General  Clinton  has  demanded  a 
num^ber  of  men  from  every  county,  to  fortify  the  Island.  lie  fears  a 
visit  from  the  French,  our  illustrious  ally. 

702.  Gaine,0ci.U,"19.  Stolen,  Sep.  15,  from  Jos.  Ketcham's, 
at  Nesiscop,  40  miles  east  of  N.  Y.,  by  7  or  8  armed  men  dressed  in 
blue,  a  gnn,  silver  mounted  and  gold  touch-hole  ;  a  suit  of  green 
clothes,  gilt  oval  buttons ;  a  suit,  light-colored  silk  jean,  solid  silver 


88  AR3IED    OCCUPATION    OF 

buttons ;  a  suit  nankeen.  The  above  made  a  short  fit  for  shooting. 
Also,  4  ruffled  shirts,  4  cravats,  4  handkerchiefs,  fowHng  bag,  &c., 
10  gallons  shrub,  18  Madeira  wine,  also  a  gun  of  Major  [John] 
AntilPs,  [of  Skinner's  Brigade].  j£lO  rev/ard  for  one,  and  £5  for 
every  other  of  the  robbers. 

N.  B. — Any  of  the  gang  who  will  inform,  may  depend  on  every 
means  being  used  to  obtain  his  pardon,  by  Richard  Deane,  distiller, 
N.  Y. 

703.  On  the  night  of  Oct.  2,  a  party  of  men  attempted  to  break  into 
the  house  of  Widow  Piatt,  Huntington,  where  Jas.  Houston  and 
John  Stewart  kept  store,  but  was  prevented  by  Mr.  Stewart,  who 
threatened  to  fire  on  them.  The  night  following  they  returned  with 
a  greater  force  and  attacked  the  house  in  like  manner,  when  they 
were  again  prevented.  On  5th  returned  a  third  time,  at  12  at  night, 
broke  up  a  window  with  a  sledge,  and  fired  several  shot  into  the 
house,  when  a  hot  engagement  commenced. 

Mr.  John  Stewart,  Mr.  Piatt,  and  a  negro,  prevented  their  getting 
into  the  house  for  some  time,  but  one  of  the  villains  got  into  the 
kitchen,  where  John  Stewart  killed  him.  The  firing  alarmed  the  in- 
habitants, who  immediately  took  to  their  arms,  and  drove  the  robbers 
into  the  woods.  The  negro  received  a  wound  in  the  head,  the  only 
damage  done. — Oct.  18, '79.     Game. 

(100  guineas  reicard.)  A  most  daring  robbery  was  committed 
at  the  house  of  Jesse  Conklin,  Bushy  Plains,  by  persons  unknown, 
on  the  night  of  Oct.  tiie  6th.  100  guineas  reward,  and  a  (free) 
pardon  from  the  Commander  in  Chief,  ( is  offered  )  to  any  accomplice 
who  shall  prove  evidence  against  the  rest. — Oct.  18, '79.     Gaine. 

704.  Nov.  3,  '79,  Riv.  We  hear  from  B.  Haven,  that  last  Mon- 
day evening,  a  party  of  20  rebels,  in  3  whale-boats,  arrived  near  the 
house  of  Col.  Benj.  Floyd.  They  attacked  the  house,  and  robbed 
him  of  £600,  and  the  most  valuable  part  of  his  household  goods.  2  of 
the  party  had  their  faces  blacked ;  and  the  same  night  the  house  of 
Andrew  Scton  was  robbed  (by  the  same  party)  of  the  most  valuable 
effects :  and  on  the  preceding  evening  the  house  of  Capt.  Solomon 
Davis  (see  767)  at  Old  Man's  was  attacked.  They  fired  several 
shot  through  the  house,  but  Capt.  Davis  stood  ready  to  receive  the 
first  who  should  dare  enter,  either  at  the  doors  or  windows.  He 
told  them  he    was  accustomed  to  having  balls  fly  around  him,  and 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  89 

some  of  the  inhabitants  being  alarmed,  the  rebels  went  off  without 
doing  any  more  damage  in  that  quarter.  Several  other  robberies 
have  been  committed  on  the  south  side. 

705.  Nov.  6,  '79,  Riv.  2  guineas  reward.  A  nut  brown  horse  run 
away,  Nov.  3,  in  disembarking  at  Brooklyn  ferry,  belonging  to  the 
Major  of  the  Hess.  Reg.  of  Dit fourth,  marching  to  Huntington. — 
Not  easy  caught. 

706.  y.  London,  Dec.  4, '79.  5  green  coats  arrived  here,  from 
L.  I.,  last  Monday  night. 

Petitions  of  Suffolk  Co.  Refugees  in    Conn. 

707.  Ap.  24,  '80.  Gilbert  Fanning,  jr.,  a  nephew  of  Lt.  Palmer,  at 
Stonington,  wants  to  return  to  L.  I.  to  settle  about  land  in  Stonington, 
which  his  grandfather  F.  left  to  his  father  (at  his  death  in  June  last), 
also  to  get  power  of  attorney  from  Phineas  and  Jas.  F.,  at  Southold, 
to  dispose  of  estate  of  Richard  F.,  who  died  8  years  ago  in  North 
Carolina,  and  left  2  children  who  died  lately. 

May,  '80.  David  Palmer  wants  permit  to  get  produce  of  Col.  Gardi- 
ner, his  falher-in-law,  off  Plumb  I. 

Jp.  ll.'SO.  Thos.,  Amaziah,  and  Selah  Corwin,  Peter  Halliock, 
Israel  Youngs,  David  Vail,  Daniel  Tuthill,  at  Lyme,  are  permitted  to 
go  to  L.  I.  for  grain,  wool,  flax,  and  1^  bushels  salt  each  for  their  families. 
They  are  to  carry  over  no  provisions  nor  bring  off  any  British  goods. 

Capt.  John  Conklin,  refugee,  has  a  pass  to  cross  Sound  in  illicit 
trade.  June  13, '80. 

June  30,  '80.  Wm.  Lawrence,  late  of  S.  Hampton, now  of  Saybrook, 
wishes  a  pass  for  his  wife  and  Elizabeth  Simmons  to  go  and  stay  on  L. 
I.     He  to  return  after  settling  up  his  mother's  estate. 

July  12,  '80.  Andrew  Ward  wants  permit  for  Rev.  Mr.  Rose  to 
visit  L.  L  and  procure  proof  that  certain  captured  goods,  worth  jC800, 
were  bought  and  not  captured  on  L.  L 

Aug.  10,  '80.  Doctor  Howell  and  Mr.  Leavenworth  in  the  illicit 
trade  seized,  but  showed  a  permit  from  President  of  Congress. 

Capt.  Zach.  Rogers,  Jacob  Titus  and  Thos.  Conklin,  of  L.  L,  were 
taken  in  a  wood-boat  ori  the  9Wind  before  Aug.  26,  '80. 

Before  Sep.  14,  '80.  Capt.  Lockwood  took  from  L.  L  Cable  andLud- 
1am. 

John  Storrs,  Hartford,  Oct.  25,  '80,  wants  to  go  and  preach  on  L. 
I.  and  bring  back  presents.     Capt.  Gamahel  Baley  to  command  the  boat. 


90  ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF 

Oct.  31,  '80.  Wm.  Lawrence,  at  Saybrook,  wishes  to  bring  his 
family  off  L.  I.     He  left  12  months  ago. 

Jacob  Titus,  Thos.  Conklin,  Zach.  Rogers,  late  of  Huntington, 
taken  10  weeks  ago  in  a  wood-boat  and  now  prisoners  of  war  at  Hart- 
ford, will  aid  the  American  cause,  if  liberated.  Oct.  '80. 

Geo,  Smith,  at  Hartford,  wishes  to  go  to  Smithtown  now  and  then 
to  see  to  his  estate.  His  father  lately  died.  Has  large  family  to  sup- 
port, 

Geo,  Howell  wishes  to  bring  over  from  L.  I.  his  secreted  effects. 

No  date. 

Mar.  13,  '80.  Oba.  Johnes,  Nath'l  King  and  Daniel  Tuthill,  pray  to 
go  to  L.  I.  at  all  times  for  provisions  for  their  families. 

Mar.  10,  '80.  Eben'r  Reeve  and  Nath'l,  his  nephew,  at  school  at 
Chelsea,  were  refugees  from  L.  I. 

Mar.  20,  '80.  Dr.  Henry  White,  at  Stonington,  wishes  to  return  to 
L.  I. 

Mar.  21,  '80.  Nath'l  Overton,  at  Groton,  wants  to  return  to 
Southold. 

John  Franks,  Elias  Howell,  Dan'l  Fordham,  Henry  Hopping,  Silas 
Jessup,  David  Woodruff,  Geo.  Fordham,  Dan'l  Rackett  and  Capt.  Paul 
Reeve,  want  permits  to  cross  to  L.  I.  Nov.,  '80  ? 

Joshua  Smith  and  Capt.  D.  Roe,  of  B.  Haven,  at  Middletown;  Capt. 
D.  Roe  at  Woodbury,  '80  ;  Lt.  Caleb  Brewster  of  Continental  Army, 
Seth  and  Ephraim  Marvin,  of  B.  Haven,  at  Norwalk,  '80  ;  Cornelius 
and  Eben'r  Conklin,  Alex,  and  Carll  Ketchum,  W.  Sammis,  Jas. 
Hubbs,  Benj.  Blachly,  Pearson  Brush,  Epenetus  Smith,  Jos.  Titus,  Tim. 
Williams,  at  Norwalk  ;  Isaac  Smith  at  N.  Haven.  Ap.  27,  '80. 

Jan.  24,  '80.  John  Hulbert,  David  Sayre,  Theoph's  Halsey,  Maltby 
Gelston,  David  Pierson,  Zeb.  Osborn,  Uriah  Rogers  and  Stephen  How- 
ell, all  of  E.  Haddam,  and  Gamaliel  Bayley,  of  Hartford,  have  permits 
to  go  to  L.  I.  for  flax. 

Ma%j,  '80.  Benj.  Nathan,  from  Southold — wife  became  discontent- 
ed— returned  in  a  year  with  the  children  and  back  one  year  since, 
asks  to  take  over  2  or  3  cows— allowed  to  take  one. 

Hannah  Cupper  and  P.  Tillenness,  widows,  fled  with  their  husbands 
from  Southold  to  Haddam — unable  to  support  their  families — desire  to 
return — granted. 

Eben.  Edwards,  Southampton  to  Farmington — indigent — wants  to 
go  over  and  bring  back  avails  of  his  farm. 

Wm.  Floyd  from  L.  I.  to  Middletown — Gen.  Tryon  allowed  two  tories 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  91 

to  take  his  estate,  and  his  steward  fled  to  Conn. — asks  to  send  over  for 
his  effects — granted.  Ap.  '80.  a'J 

Zeb.  Hallock,  Southold  to  Guilford — has  a  family  in  want,  who 
wish  his  return — granted. 

Dr.  Silas  Halsey,  Southampton  to  Killingworth — property  gone — out 
of  business — asks  to  return  as  the  east  end  of  the  Island  is  quiet — 
granted.  Ap.  '80. 

Jona.  Havens,  from  L.  I.  to  East  Haddam,  1776 — sold  his  grain  and 
cattle  for  continental  money,  which  is  spent — in  need  and  wants  to  re- 
turn— allowed,  with  his  family,  negro  boy,  family  stores,  furniture,  &,c. 

Ap.  '80. 

Wm.  Havens,  from  L.  I. — can't  support  his  family  at  Saybrook — 
asks  to  return — negatived.  June,  '80. 

David  and  Silvanus  Hoel,  and  Jer.  Rogers,  Southampton  to  Kill- 
ingworth, 1776 — ask  to  go  over  to  rent  their  farms  and  bring  back 
the  avails — negatived.  Ap.,  '80. 

Sam'l  Landon  and  Barnabas  Horton — Southampton  to  Guilford — 
ask  to  return — granted,  31ay,  '80. 

Wm.  Lawrence,  Southampton — fled  to  Saybrook  leaving  his  family 
when  enemy  possessed  E.  end  of  Island — wife  sick — asks  to  return — 
negatived.  May,  '80. 

Seth  Overton  asks  to  bring  over  from  Southold  to  Chatham  his  aged 
parents  who  are  insulted  by  the  British — negatived.  Oct.  '80. 

Elias  Pelletreau,  goldsmith,  and  his  two  sons,  John  and  Elias, 
Southampton  to  Simsbury — enemy  made  a  store  of  his  house  and  ruin- 
ed him,  1776 — asks  for  his  two  sons  to  return  with  goldsmith's  tools — 
negatived.  Ap.  '80. 

Paul  Reeve,  L.  I.  to  Saybrook — was  Captain  in  the  army  and  dis- 
charged— can't  support  his  family  and  asks  to  return — negatived. 

Major  King,  Oyster  Pond  to  Saybrook,  with  his  aged  parents — 
wants  to  bring  over  avails  of  his  farm — allowed  under  inspection. 

Date  lost. 

Abigail  and  Bethiah  Terry,  Southold  to  Durham,  1776 — single  and 
in  decline  of  life — can't  obtain  support — want  to  return — g^ranted. 

Sep.  '80. 

Jos.  Topping,  L.  I.  to  Middletown — in  need — a  large  family — has  a 
farm — an  aged  father  on  the  Island — allowed  to  return.         3Iay,  '80. 

Rufus  and  Christ'r  Tuthili,  widow  Dolly  Baley  and  John  King — 
Southold  to  N.  London — ask  to  take  over  a  cow  each — granted. 

May,  '80. 


92  ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF 

Benj.  Vail,  Jona.  Conklin,  Jona.  and  Joshua  Horton,  and  Joshua 
Reeve — Southold  to  Guilford — cannot  support  their  families — ask  to 
return  and  take  over  cattle — granted,  Ap.  '80. 

David  Welden,  L.  I.  to  E.  Haddam,  Sep.,  1776 — in  want — has  an 
aged  mother — if  allowed  to  return  will  take  no  part  against  U.  S. — 
granted.  Ap.  '80. 

John  Preston,  and  Tim.  Welles,  Sr.  and  Jr.,  at  Stonington — left 
large  estates  at  Southold — money  gone — in  want — ask  to  return — 
allowed.  Ap.  '80. 

Dr.  Henry  White  wishes  to  return  to  his  father.  Rev.  Mr.  White,  at 
Southampton — negatived.  Feb.  '81. 

Thos.  Topping,  tanner  and  shoemaker.  South  Hampton  to  Weth- 
ersfield — spent  the  effects  he  brought  over — allowed  to  return. 

Ap.  '80. 

Jan.  '80.  John,  Cornelius,  and  Selah  Conklin,  Sam'l  Vail,  Rob't 
Brush,  Conklin  Shaden,  Ezekiel  Wickes,  Carll  and  Alex.  Ketcham, 
John  Carll,  Henry  Scudder,  Joshua  and  Jarvis  Rogers,  Jesse  Arthur, 
Josiah  Buffet,  Seth  Marvin, — L.  I.  to  Conn. — forsook  their  homes, 
which  had  been  taken  by  the  British — ask  relief  of  Poll  Tax. 

Feb.  '80.  Eph.  and  Benj.  Marvin,  Zebulon  Williams,  Wm.  Salmon, 
Gabriel  Smith,  Benj.  and  Gabriel  North,  L.  I.  to  Norwalk — spent  all 
they  brought  over — ask  relief  from  Tax. 

Oct.  '80.  Geo.  Smith,  Smithtown  to  Stratford — asks  to  return  to 
bring  off  the  avails  of  the  sale  of  his  estate  in  merchandise. 

Wm.  Philips  wants  permit  to  go  to  L.  I.  and  bring  off  effects  of 
Col.  Floyd  and  his  own,  (and  get  iJGOO  then  due  Col.  F.  from  Dan'l 
Downs.)  Philips  was  Floyd's  overseer  and  had  resided  2  years  at 
Milford. 

708.  New  Haven,  Feb.  2,  '80.  Last  week,  as  3  Hessian  soldiers 
were  attempting  to  cross  the  Sound  from  Lloyd's  Neck,  2  were 
drowned  ;  the  3d  got  safe  ashore  on  the  Main. 

709.  $20  Reward  and  Charges.  Stolen  out  of  the  barn  of  Zo- 
phar  Rogers,  Huntington,  Feb.  19,  '80,  2  horses,  &c. 

710.  Public  thanks  are  hereby  rendered  to  His  Ex.  Brig.  Gen. 
LELAND,  for  his  amiable  command  during  his  stay  at  Huntington : 
by  a  vote  (nem.  con.)  of  tlie  inhabitants,  at  a  town  meeting,  held 
March  9,  '80.  Sol.  Ketcham,  Town  Clerk. 

711.  July  19,  '80.  Symcoe  crossed  the  Sound  at  Flushing,  and 


SUFFOLK   COUKTY.  93 

marched  to  Huntington,  v/here  100  of  the  militia  cavalry  of  the 
Island  joined  him.  This  corps  was  destined  to  secure  the  commu- 
nication overland,  between  the  Fleet  which  lay  off  the  East  end  of  the 
Island  and  N.  Y.  The  Queen's  Rangers  remained  about  the  Points, 
on  the  E.  end  of  the  Island  till  Aug.  9,  when  they  fell  back  to 
Corum,  whence  they  returned  Eastward,  Aug,  15,  being  joined  by 
the  King's  Amer.  Reg.,  which  Sym^coe  was  ordered  to  detach  to 
Riverhead,  and  he  himself  met  the  Commander-in-Chief  (Clinton), 
who  was  now  on  his  journey  by  the  Admiral's  invitation,  to  hold  a 
conference  with  him.  Clinton  sent  Symcoe  to  Adm'l  Arbuthnot, 
whose  fleet  was  anchored  in  Gardiner's  Bay,  but  sailed  before  Clin- 
ton could  arrive.  The  Queen's  Rangers  returned  to  Oyster  Bay, 
Aug.  23.  This  march  of  near  300  miles  had  been  made  very 
fatiguing  by  the  uncommonly  hot  weather,  which  rendered  the  Pine 
barren,  through  which  the  roads  principally  lay,  as  close  and  sultry  in 
the  night  as  in  the  daytime.  The  troops  had  been  obliged  to  subsist 
on  the  country.  A  militia  dragoon  who  was  sent  express  to  the 
Adj.  Gen.  [Andre  ?]  to  inform  him  what  difficulty  there  was  in  pro- 
curing provisions  for  the  troops,  and  the  hardships  which  con- 
sequently fell  upon  the  inhabitants,  was  waylaid,  taken  and  robbed 
at  Smithtown,  by  a  party  from  the  Rebel  shore.  As  this  had  been 
form.erly  the  case,  and  it  was  obvious  no  party  could  remain  se- 
creted unknown  to  the  inhabitants,  Lt.  Col.  Symcoe  obtained  leave 
of  Clinton,  to  raise  a  contribution  from  the  inhabitants  of  £80  cur- 
rency, one-half  to  reimburse  the  militia  man  for  what  was  taken 
from  him,  and  the  other  to  recompense  him  for  the  chagrin  he  must 
have  been  under  in  not  being  able  to  execute  his  orders. 

Jour.  149,  150. 

712.  Last  Friday  night  a  party  of  Rebels  surrounded  the  house  of 
Dr.  Punderson  of  Setauket,  took  him  prisoner  and  carried  him  to 
Con't :  in  that  night  the  same  party  took  Wm.  Jayne,  jr.  The 
rebels  told  Mrs.  P.  they  had  taken  the  Dr.  to  exchange  for  Jolin 
Smith  and  Mr.  Jayne  for  Wm.  Philips,  who  were  seized  at  Smith- 
town,  at  Widow  Blyenbury's,  on  a  trading  expedition. 

Gaine,  July  17,  '80. 

713.  Sep.  1,^80,  N.L.  Tv/o  deserters  from  the  Queen's  Rangers 
came  here  last  Sunday  from  L.  I.,  who  say  Gen.  Clinton  was  at  E. 

5* 


94  ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF 

Hampton,  Wed.  before,  and  that  day  set  out  with  his  attendants 
for  N.  Y.,  and  that  the  rest  of  the  Troops  set  out  on  Thursday. 

714.  Riv.  Sep.  16,  '80.  Taken  up  by  John  Hill,  Inspector,  Brook- 
lyn Ferry,  a  dark  bay  horse  and  2  mares,  in  the  possession  of  John 
Brown  of  Huntington,  who  is  now  in  custody  on  suspicion  of  their 
being  stolen. 

715.  Ship  Watt,  struck  on  ^  moon  shoal,  Montauk  Pt,  sunk  in 
2  hours,  Capt.   Coulthart  and  20  of  the  crew  drowned. 

Gaine,  Sep.  20,  '80. 

716.  Sep.  26,  '80.  Col.  Ludlow  writes  to  Gen.  Silliman,  that 
"  plundering  inhabitants  and  taking  off  innocent  farmers,  is  a  mode 
of  warfare  I  detest.  Outrages  are  committed  by  mercenary  men 
among  us.  Any  of  our  people  plundering  on  the  Main,  if  detected 
by  me,  will  be  returned  to  you  and  restoration  made." 

717.  Those  Refugees  desirous  of  locations  in  Suffolk  Co.  will 
leave  their  petition  with  P.  J,  Livingston,  Hellgate.      Oct.  5,  '80. 

718.  Capt.  Elisha  Elderkin  in  the  True  Blue,  took  the  Betsey, 
Dan'l  Pardue,  master,  in  South  Bay.  Oct.  8,  '80. 

719.  Oct.  9,  '80.  Michael  Veal,  Joshua  Rogers,  Cor.  Conkhn, 
John  Conklin,  and  Jesse  Brush,  in  a  whale-boat,  were  forced  by 
stress  of  weather  on  L.  L  shore,  and  are  now  prisoners  in  N.  Y. 

"Oct.  11.  Monday  last,  were  brought  to  Town  by  Capt.  Luke, 
(see  722)  of  the  Royal  Refugees,  and  safely  lodged  in  Provost,  the  fol- 
lowing rebel  gentry,  viz. :  —  Maj.  Brush,  Capt.  Cornehus  Conklin, 
Capt.  J.  Conklin,  Capt.  Rogers,  and  Lt.  Farley,  all  notorious  offenders, 
long  practised  in  coming  from  the  N.  England  shore  to  murder  and 
plunder  the  King's  loyal  subjects,  on  L.  I.  They  were  taken  last  Sat. 
by  Lt.  Pendergrass  and  a  party  of  Col.  Cuyler's  Refugees,  at  Smith- 
town,  with  their  whale-boat,  and  considerable  booty.  A  certain 
Capt.  Ketcham  was  killed  in  attempting  to  escape." 

Oct.  10,  '80,  Eoh.  Boy.  Amer.  Gaz. 

Jesse  Brush  had  sent  the  following  warning  "to  John  Ketcham  and 
his  associates." 

Head  Quarters,  Aug.  25,  '80. 

1  have  repeatedly  ordered  you,  especially  Ap.  15,  to  leave  my  farm. 
This  is  the  last  invitation.     If  you  do  not,  your  next  landfall  will  be  in 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  95 

a  warmer  climate  than  any  you  ever  lived  in  yet.     20  days  you  have  to 
make  your  escape.  Eiv.,  Oct.  21,  '80. 

"  It  vi'as  a  dark,  moonless  midnight  in  Sep.  '80,  that  Maj.  Brush,  a 
small,  w^ell-built  man,  with  red  hair,  sandy  complexion,  and  a  bright 
eye,  strong  as  Hercules,  and  bold  as  a  Lion,  2  brothers  Conklins,  from 
Virginia,  Capt.  Rogers,  a  hardy  old  fellow,  whose  farm  had  been  ravaged 
by  Cornwallis's  army,  Lt.  Ketcham,  a  polished  gentleman  and  brave 
officer,  Tim.  Williams,*  a  noble,  generous  fellow,  full  of  vivacity  and 
humor,  and  Abm.  Legget,t  landed  from  a  whale-boat  on  a  Beach  near 
Smithtown.  The  boat  was  hauled  up  in  a  cove,  and  carefully  covered 
with  branches  of  trees,  seaweed,  &c.,  so  as  to  prevent  its  being  noticed. 
Then  they  proceeded  to  a  house,  the  owner  of  which  was  a  True  Blue, 
who  had  been  apprized  that  Maj.  Brush  was  about  to  be  dispatched  on 
a  secret  mission  by  Gov.  Clinton  to  raise  a  loan  of  specie  on  h.'  I. 
For  3  weeks  they  passed  to  and  fro  in  various  disguises,  generally 
choosing  the  night  for  their  peregrinations,  sometimes  venturing  out  by 
broad  daylight,  with  assumed  names,  and  some  pretended  business 
which  they  would  puisue  with  a  great  deal  of  seeming  earnestness.  After 
they  left  L.  I.  stress  of  weather  forced  them  back  to  North  Swamp, 
when  they  hauled  up  their  boat,  capsized  it,  and  crawled  under  for  shel- 
ter. In  the  afternoon  it  cleared  up,  they  came  out,  when  they  were 
surprised  by  a  shout  from  a  neighboring  height  "  There  they  are  !  The 
d— ^^ — d  Rebels  !"  and  a  volley  of  musketry  followed,  which  laid  2  dead 
on  the  sand.  Legget  and  Williams  escaped  in  a  swamp,  and  recrossed 
in  the  night  to  Conn,  in  a  large  whale-boat  which  Gen.  Washington  kept 
cruising  in  the  Sound,  and  commanded  by  Capt.  Brewster." 

N.  York,  Dec.  1845. 

*  At  the  close  of  the  war,  a  merchant  at  Huntington,  where  he  died, 
1811. 

f  Late  of  N.  Y.  City,  and  father  of  Wm.  L.,  Editor  of  Evening 
Post. 

Gen.  Parsons  v/ants  H.  Scudder  to  go  to  L.  I.  to  negotiate  the  ex- 
change of  Maj.  Brush,  Capt.  Joshua  Rogers  and  other  refugees  from 
L.  I.  now  prisoners.  Oct.  19,  '80. 

720.  Ft.  St.  George  was  built  at  a  point  projecting  into  South 
Bay,  on  Smith's  Manor,  being  the  enemy's  easternmost  defence.  It 
was  a  triangular  inclosnre  of  several  acres  of  ground,  at  two  angles 
of  which  was  a  strongly  barricaded  house,  and  at  the  third,  a  fort, 
with  a  deep  ditch  and  wall,  encircled  by  an  abattis  of  sharpened 
pickets,  projecting  at  an  angle  of  45  degrees.     The  fort  and  hou- 


96 


ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF 


A  Plan  of  Ft.  St.  George,  taken  by  Col.  Tallmadge,  Nov.  22,  '80. 


ses  were  entirely  connected  with  a  strong  stockade,  1 2  feet  high, 
every  piece  sharpened,  and  fastened  to  each  other  by  a  transverse 
rail,  strongly  bolted  to  each.  The  work  was  nearly  finished,  and 
had  embrazures  for  6  guns,  and  but  2  mounted.  The  Fort  was  96 
ft.  square,  and  had  one  gate  and  sally  port,  leading  into  the  grand 
parade.  The  Fort  and  other  works  had  been  completed  only  a  few 
days,  and  had  50  men.  The  above  information,  and  a  draft,  was 
obtained  from  Wm.  Boothe,  who  lived  near  the  Fort,  and  actually 
guided  Tallmadge  to  it.  The  Fort  was  the  depository  of  stores, 
dry  goods,  groceries,  and  arms,  whence  Suffolk  Co.  could  be  sup- 
plied. 

Nov.  21,  '80.  At  4  P.  M.,  with  8  boats  and  a  fair  wind,  I  em- 
barked my  detachment,  consisting  of  2  companies  of  dismounted 
dragoons,  (80  men  in  all,)  at  Fairfield,  and  the  same  evening  at  8 
o'clock,  landed  at  Old  Man's.  I  was  obliged  to  go  so  far  east  to 
avoid  a  large  body  of  the  enemy  which  laid  at  Huntington  and  vi- 
cinity, partly  in  our  direct  route  from  Stamford.  Soon  after  we 
landed,  say  10  o'clock,  I  put  the  troops  in  motion  to  cross  L.  I.  We 
had  not  gone  far,  say  4  or  5  miles,  before  the  wind  began  to  blow 
from  S.  E.  and  rain  soon  followed.  I  faced  the  troops  about,  re- 
turned to  our  boats,  which  were  drawn  up  and  concealed  in  the 
bushes,  under  guard  of  20  men  ;  as  attention  must  be  paid  as  well 
to  a  favorable  time  for  re-crossing  the  Sound  (20  miles  wide)  as 
to  attacking  the  Fort.  There  we  remained  through  the  night  and 
next  day,  and  at  evening  the  rain  abated,  and  I  again  ordered  the 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  97 

troops  to  march  (7  o'clock)  for  our  destined  place  S.  side  of  L.  L 
At  3  next  morning  I  found  we  were  within  2  miles  of  Ft.  St,  George, 
when  we  halted  a  short  time  to  take  refreshment.  Having  made 
my  arrangements  for  3  different  attacks  at  the  same  time,  I  placed  2 
small  detachments  under  command  of  officers  of  high  spirit,  at  dif- 
ferent positions  from  the  Fort,  with  orders  to  keep  concealed  until 
the  enemy  should  fire  on  my  column.  Just  as  day  began  to  dawn, 
(4  o'clock.)  I  put  my  detachment  in  motion.  The  pioneers,  under 
Lt.  Brewster,  who  preceded  my  column  had  reached  within  20  yds. 
of  the  stockade  before  they  were  discovered.  At  this  moment  the 
sentinel  in  advance  of  the  stockade  halted  his  march,  looked  atten- 
tively at  our  column,  demanded  "  Who  comes  there  ?"  and  fired. 
Before  the  smoke  from  his  gun  had  cleared  his  vision,  my  sergeant, 
who  marched  by  my  side,  reached  him  with  his  bayonet  and  pros- 
trated him.  This  was  the  signal  for  the  other  troops  to  move  forward, 
when  all  seemed  to  vie  with  each  other  in  entering  the  Fort.  So 
resolute  were  the  men  that  a  breach  was  soon  made  in  the  stockade, 
where  the  rear  platoon  under  Mr.  Simmons  halted  to  prevent  the 
prisoners  from  escaping.  [There  was  a  detachment  around  each 
house  also.]  I  led  the  column  directly  through  the  grand  parade 
against  the  main  fort,  which  we  carried  with  the  bayonet  in  less  than 
10  minutes,  not  a  musket  being  loaded.  At  the  same  instant  that  I 
entered  one  side  of  the  fort,  the  officers  commanding  the  smaller  de- 
tachments mounted  the  ramparts  on  the  other  sides,  and  the  watch- 
word, '•  Washington  and  Glory  /"  was  repeated  from  3  sides  of  the 
Fort  at  the  same  time.  While  we  were  standing,  elated  with  vic- 
tory, in  the  centre  of  the  Fort,  a  volley  of  musketry  was  discharged 
from  the  windows  of  one  of  the  large  houses  containing  the  main 
body  of  the  enemy,  which  induced  me  to  order  my  whole  detach- 
ment to  load  and  return  the  fire.  I  soon  found  it  necessary  to  lead 
the  column  directly  to  the  house,  which  being  strongly  barricaded, 
required  the  aid  of  the  pioneers  with  their  axes.  As  soon  as  the 
troops  could  enter,  the  confusion  and  conflict  was  great.  A  consid- 
erable portion  of  those  who  had  fired  after  the  Fort  was  taken,  and 
the  colors  had  been  struck,  was  thrown  headlong  from  the  2d  story 
to  the  ground.  Having  forfeited  their  lives  by  the  usages  of  war, 
all  would  liave  been  killed,  had  I  not  ordered  the  slaughter  to  cease. 
In  less  than  10  minutes  the  garrison  were  prisoners.     The  prisoners 


98  ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF 

being  secured,  it  was  soon  discovered  that  a  vessel  which  laid  near 
the  Fort,  loaded  with  stores,  wine,  rum,  sugar,  glass,  &,c.,  was  getting 
under  weigh.  The  guns  of  the  Fort  were  brought  to  bear  on  her 
and  she  was  soon  secured.  (I  detached  a  party  who  boarded  and 
took  lier.)  All  things  were  now  safe  and  quiet,  and  I  had  never 
seen  the  sun  rise  more  pleasantly.  It  became  necessary  to  demolish 
the  enemy's  works ;  and  an  immense  quantity  of  various  goods, 
English,  &c.,  v/as  destroyed.  The  shipping  and  their  stores  were 
also  burnt  up.  Some  valuable  articles  of  dry  goods  were  made  up 
in  bundles,  placed  on  the  prisoners'  shoulders,  who  were  pinioned,  2 
and  2,  and  thus  carried  across  tlie  Island  to  our  boats. 

Having  given  the  command  of  the  detachment  to  Capt.  Edgar, 
with  orders  to  halt  at  a  given  point  near  the  middle  of  the  Island,  I 
selected  10  or  12  men  with  Lt.  Brewster,  and  mounted  them  on 
horses  taken  at  the  Fort,  with  which  I  intended  to  destroy  the  King's 
magazines  of  forage  at  Corum.  Tliis  place  was  nearly  half  way  to 
the  place  where  a  large  body  of  British  troops  were  encamped,  E. 
of  Huntington.  I  reached  it  in  about  an  hour  and  a  half,  made  a 
vigorous  charge  upon  the  guard  placed  to  protect  it,  set  it  on  fire, 
(say  300  tons  of  hay)  and  in  about  an  hour  and  a  half  more  reached 
the  place  where  I  had  ordered  the  troops  to  halt,  having  rode  15  or 
16  miles.  As  I  arrived  I  was  glad  to  see  the  head  of  the  detach- 
ment under  Capt.  Edgar  advancing  with  the  prisoners.  As  none  of 
us  had  halted  since  we  parted,  we  sat  down  for  nearly  an  hour  and 
refreshed.  After  this  we  took  up  our  line  of  march.  By  this  time 
the  militia  began  to  muster,  but  prudently  avoided  coming  near  us. 
Some  guns  were  fired,  but  no  damage  received.  By  4  o'clock  we 
reached  our  boats,  and  before  sunset  were  all  afloat  on  the  Sound. 
By  midnight  every  boat  arrived  at  Fairfield  Beacli,  although  we  had 
entirely  lost  sight  of  each  otlier  in  the  darkness  of  tlie  night.  This 
service  was  executed  entirely  without  the  loss  of  one  man,  and  only 
one  was  badly  wounded  and  him  we  brought  off.  Thus  in  21  hours 
we  marched  near  40  miles,  took  t!ie  Fort,  burnt  the  magazines,  &c. 
The  enemy's  loss  was  7  killed  and  wounded,  most  of  the  latter  mor- 
tally. We  took  one  Lt.  Col.  Commandant,  one  Capt.,  one  Lt.,  one 
Surgeon,  and  50  rank  and  file,  with  a  liost  of  others  in  the  garrison 
whom  we  left  behind  ;  also  one  garrison  standard. 

Mr.   Muirson   was   a  volunteer,  and  deserves   commendation. 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  99 

He  advanced  v/ith  Lt.  Jackson  over  the  abattis  and  wall  into  the 
Fort.     Thompson,  ii.  484.     Syms,  p.  542. 

Eiv.,  Dec.  2,  '80.  80  Rebels  headed  by  Maj.  Talmadge,  assisted  by 
Heathcot  Muirson,  Benajah  Strong,  Thos.  Jackson,  Caleb  Brewster, 
officers  belonging  to  the  same  party,  formerly  all  of  L.  I.,  came  across 
in  8  whale-boats  and  landed  between  Wading  R.  and  Old  Man's,  (sup- 
posed to  have  been  concealed  2  or  three  days  by  their  old  friends  on  the 
Island).  On  Thursday  morning,  23d  Nov.,  about  50  marched  across 
the  Island  (the  remainder  being  left  to  guard  the  boats)  just  after  daylight, 
arrived  at  Smith's  Point,  St.  George's  Manor,  where  they  surprised  a  re- 
spectable body  of  loyal  refugees  from  R.  I.  and  the  vicinity,  who  were 
establishing  a  post  to  get  a  present  subsistence  for  themselves  and  their 
families.  The  sentry  on  observing  them,  fired,  which  they  returned, and 
mortally  wounded  him,  and  rushed  into  a  house.  Mr.  Isaac  Hart,  of 
N.  Port,  was  inhumanly  fired  on,  wounded  and  bayoneted  in  15  differ- 
ent parts  of  his  body,  and  beat  with  their  muskets  in  a  shocking  manner 
in  the  very  act  of  imploring  quarter,  and  died  of  his  wounds  a  few 
hours  after.  Four  more  refugees  were  wounded  also,  but  are  in  fair 
way  of  recovery.  A  poor  woman  was  also  fired  on  at  another  house 
and  barbarously  wounded  through  both  breasts,  of  which  wound  she 
now  lingers. 

The  Rebels  carried  off"  about  40  prisoners  ;  on  their  return  atCorum, 
they  burnt  a  magazine  of  hay,  about  lOU  tons,  and  same  day  embarked 
for  the  Con't  shore. 

721.  The  Cullodcn,  in  pursuit  of  French  ships  from  R.  I.,  in  a 
dreadful  storm  on  Monday  night,  Jan.  22,  '81,  was  driven  on  L,  I., 
[at  Culloden  Point]  Her  men,  guns,  and  masts,  will  be  saved. 
We  have  the  inhuman  consolation  to  hope  the  French  have  fared 
worse. — Gen.  Robertson. 

722.  Gaine,  Jan.  21,  '81.  Address  by  the  officers  of  the  Loyal 
Refugee  Volunteers  establislied  under  his  auspices  at  Smithtown,to 
Col.  Abm.  Cnyler,  previous  to  his  departure  for  England.  They 
approve  his  conduct,  thank  him  for  his  kind  endeavors  to  alleviate 
their  disagreeable  situation,  and  beg  him  to  assure  His  Majesty  of 
their  loyal  attachment.  Signed  by  P.  V.  Alstyn,  Maj.  Com't;  P. 
Luke,  J.  V.  D.  Poel,  B.  Dyer,  Capt's ;  M.  Pendergrass,  P.  Hoff, 
Wm.  Castilles,  John  Iluyck,  Lts ;  P.  Durland,  Q.  M. 

723.  Gaine,  Mar.  12,  '81.     A  party  of  rebels  from  Con't  in 


100  ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF 

8  whale-boats  and  an  armed  schooner,  to  the  amount,  as  is  supposed, 
of  150  men,  arrived  at  S.  Hampton,  last  Monday,  plundered  the  in- 
habitants of  several  thousand  pounds  worth  of  goods,  and  carried 
several  of  them  away  prisoners. 

724.  Mar.  16,  '81.  The  British  fleet,  that  had  lain  some  time  at 
Gardiner's  Bay,  set  sail  southward. — N.  London. 

725.  N.  London,  Ap.  20,  '81.  Capt.  Pierpont,  in  an  armed 
whale-boat  from  N.  Haven,  was  taken  by  surprise  at  Canoe  Place, 
by  a  party  of  refugees  who  lay  in  ambush  for  him, 

726.  Capt.  Fitch  visited  Corum,  May  2,  '81,  and  found  a  few 
goods  ;  most  were  secreted.  He  took  Glover,  Ap.  27,  '81,  on  Conn, 
shore. 

727.  Valentine  Rider,  with  three  boats  duly  commissioned,  land- 
ed at  Mt.  Misery,  went  into  the  country  and  robbed  David  Munro 
and  Widow  Taylor  of  furniture,  &c.,  equal  to  £600.  Before  leav- 
ing the  coast,  17  of  them  landed  a  second  time,  and  shot  at  a  son  of 
Philip  Roe,  beat  and  robbed  him  and  his  brother  Nath'l  of  furniture, 
clothing,  cash,  &c. ;  broke  looking-glass  and  windows. — May,  '81. 

728.  May  23,  '81.  Five  whale-boats,  containing  about  50  men, 
made  their  appearance  in  the  South  Bay,  where  they  attacked  and 
took  a  sloop  loaded  with  lumber  belonging  to  Messrs.  Keteltas  & 
Nicoll,  of  N.  Y.,  which  they  dispatched  with  one  of  their  boats  for 
N.  Haven. 

A  few  evenings  after,  the  remaining  crews,  38  in  no.,  landed  at 
Blue  Pt.,  and  plundered  several  of  the  inhabitants  of  provisions, 
clothing,  and  money,  to  a  considerable  amount ;  and  carried  off 
another  small  vessel  of  K.  &.  N. 

Early  next  morning,  by  the  exertions  of  two  or  three  principal 
sufferers,  the  militia  were  assembled  under  command  of  Capt's  Rose 
and  Baker,  and  marched  10  or  12  miles  with  cheerfulness,  but  find- 
ing no  prospect  of  overtaking  the  plunderers  without  proceeding  30 
miles  farther,  to  a  place  they  knew  the  rebels  must  of  necessity 
cross,  the  Capt's  declined  going.  22  men,  however,  on  promise  of 
having  their  expenses  defrayed,  and  a  little  persuasion,  consented  to 
continue  their  march,  and  after  suffering  every  inconvenience  from 
a  heavy  road,  and  want  of  sustenance,  had  the  good  fortune  to  over- 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  101 

take  them,  taking  their  rest  at  the  Canoe  Place,  about  2  in  the 
morning.  Knowing  themselves  still  undiscovered,  they  immedi- 
ately attacked  them  at  15  yards  distance,  and  so  completely  sur- 
prised them,  as  to  kill  one,  mortally  wound  another,  make  20  prison- 
ers, and  secured  their  boats  and  plunder,  with  38  stand  of  arms,  with- 
out the  smallest  opposition.  The  prisoners,  under  guard,  v/ere 
ordered  in  their  boats,  and  arrived  in  N.  Y.  on  Saturday  evening, 
and  are  safely  lodged  in  the  Sugar  House. — Riv.  Ju.  6,  '81. 

At  auction,  near  the  ferry  stairs,  4  prize  whale-boats,  taken  a  few 
days  since  on  S.  side  of  L.  I.,  in  good  repair,  and  well  found  in  oars, 
&c. 

729.  Maij  31,  '81,  N.  London.  Some  days  ago  Major  Ayres 
made  an  excursion  from  Say  brook  to  L.  I.,  and  took  2  vessels  near 
Wading  River.  After  taking  some  goods  out  of  the  vessels  they  went 
ashore  ;  and  as  they  were  cooking  provisions  under  a  bank,  they 
were  suddenly  fired  on,  when  Major  A.  and  one  or  two  of  the  party 
were  killed. 

730.  June  11,  '81.  Goods  and  furniture,  equal  to  £31.  19.  8, 
were  taken  from  John  Bayley  of  Brookhaven,  by  Ezekiel. Wicks, 
Jacob  Conklin,  Bcnj.  Nicoll  and  others;  from  Dan'l  Downs,  equal  to 
£4.  2;  from  Capt.  Wm.  Brewster,  equal  to  £68.  12.  6. 

731.  Before  June  12,  '81,  St.  Martin  took  goods  from  L.  I.  ; 
Geo.  Smith,  of  Hartford,  took  corduroys,  calicoes,  &c.,  at  Corum  ; 
Eben'r  Ayres,  of  Stamford,  took  goods  at  Cow  Harbor ;  E.  Jones,  of 
Stamford,  took  law  books. 

732.  Gaine,  July  2,  '81.  On  Wednesday  night  last,  a  party  of 
rebels  from  New  England,  with  5  whale-boats  and  about  50  men, 
landed  at  Crane  Neck,  Setauket,  and  early  next  morning  went  to 
the  house  of  Capt.  Nathan  Woodhull,  which,  after  they  had  plun- 
dered, with  three  others  adjoining,  of  considerable  value,  carried 
Capt.  W.  and  his  son  along  with  them  ;  fortunately,  the  boats  were 
discovered  by  two  brigs  and  a  sloop  lying  in  the  Sound,  who  imme- 
diately gave  them  chase,  which  obliged  the  rebels  to  run  their  boats 
ashore  and  make  their  escape  to  the  woods,  leaving  their  boats  and 
plunder  behind.  The  goods  were  returned  to  their  owners,  and 
Capt.  W.  and  son  prevented  from  being  carried  off.  One  Dan'l 
Jackson,  of  Newark,  was  commander  of  the  party. 


102  ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF 

On  Wednesday  morning,  June  20,  the  Associators  (in  the  brig 
Sir  H.  Clinton,  sloop  Association  and  brig  Keppel)  returning  from  an 
expedition  to  Conn.,  discovered  seven  rebel  boats  off  Setauket;  but  the 
rebels  being  too  near  the  shore  to  be  cut  off,  landed,  hauled  their 
boats  into  the  woods,  and  then  ran  off.  Capt.  Hubbel  landed  with 
all  his  force,  and  in  two  hours  brought  off  a  very  fine  12  oared  barge 
or  gunboat,  called  Gen.  Wooster,  with  two  swivels  and  a  blunder- 
buss, and  six  very  good  whale-boats,  most  of  which  are  entirely  new. 
Every  method  was  taken  to  discover  the  rebels  on  shore,  but  with- 
out success.  In  the  boats  was  found  a  quantity  of  plunder  worth 
£100. 

733.  June  22,  '81.  Caleb  Brewster  and  John  Grennel,  swear  to 
abuses  committed  on  L.  I.  by  whale-boats. 

List  of  Persons  Robbed. 
Selah  Strong,  Ruth  Blydenburgh,         David  Longbottom, 

Tyler,  Sam'l  Hare,  Tho's  Hicks, 

Wm.  Brewster,  Cha's  Dallas,  Jona.  Tucker, 

John  Bailey,  Ja's  Smith,  Selah  Havens, 

David  Munroe,  Tim.  Smith,  Nath'l  Fanning, 

Mary  Taylor,  Edward  Tappan,  David  Gardiner, 

Ja's  Gardiner,  Langdon,  Ja's  M'Cleure ; 

Nath'l  and  Philip  Roe,  were  twice  plmidered  and  once  whipped. 
£100  was  paid  to  ransom  a  house  from  being  burnt. — Trumbull,  xv.  27. 

734.  Aug.  3.  A  body  of  armed  men  with  ff^ed  bayonets,  came 
to  the  house  of  Gilbert  and  Simon  Fleet,  near  Huntington,  and  robbed 
the  2  families  of  all  the  money  and  plate  they  could  find  (in  their 
possession),  and  had  nigh  strangled  one  of  them  by  hanging  him  up 
to  a  beam  in  his  kitchen. — Aug.  15,  '81.   Gaine. 

735.  Wm.  Fowler  and  John  Strong  in  the  armed  boat  Wm.  the 
Conqueror,  took  a  small  skiff  in  Accabonic  Bay,  Aug.  23,  '81,  with 
300  lbs.  coffee,  an  J  120  lbs.  tea. 

736.  Sep.  1-1,  '81.  Two  whale-boats  with  40  armed  men  from 
Conn.,  landed  on  South  Hampton,  and  killed  and  dressed  4  sheep  of 
Jos.  Havens.  On  the  evening  of  15th  they  ransacked  the  house  of 
Nicoll  Havens,  Esq.,  on  Shelter  I.,  took  2  fowling-pieces,  a  silver- 
hilted  sword,  silver-mounted  hanger,  some  tea.  &c. ;  thence  to  Capt. 
Ja's  Havens',  took  a  watch-coat,  fowling-piece,  &-c. ;  thence  to  Wi- 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  103 

dow  Payne's,  insulted  and  threatened  to  burn  the  house,  made  them 
produce  silver  tankard,  linen,  watch-coat,  fowling-piece,  &c.  16th 
they  landed  at  E.  end  of  Southold,  disarmed  the  people  on  their  way 
up  to  the  settlement,  and  fired  at  some  unarmed  people,  entered  the 
house  of  David  Gardiner  (who  was  about  removing  to  Conn.)  with 
fixed  bayonets,  took  goods  and  family  articles  ;  knocked  down  Jos. 
Peck.  On  their  way  down  to  the  shore,  they  beat  \vith  a  gun-breech 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lommedieu,  an  aged  couple,  threatened  to  burn  Wi- 
dow Moore's  house,  because  armed  men  had  assembled  there  to  re- 
sist them,  flashed  a  gun  at  John  Vail,  aged  60  ;  said  they  had  some 
of  Delancey's  cov/boys  with  them,  would  burn  the  whole  town  if  op- 
position were  made,  and  put  men,  women  and  children  to  death. 

737.  A  representation  of  the  inhabitants  of  Shelter  I.,  and  South- 
old  to  Gov.  Trumbull,  Sept.  21,  '81,  complaining  of  whale-boats,  signed 

Sam'l  Landon,  David  Conklin,  Jared  Langdon, 

Oba.  Vail,  Jos.  Peck,  Benj.  Prince, 

Jos.  Prince,  Benj.  Vail,  John  Hubbard. 

738.  N.  London,  Sep.  21,  '81.  400  of  Arnold's  men  landed  at 
Southold,  and  plundered  and  carried  off  to  the  value  of  £3000. 

739.  Before  Sep.  26,  '81.  Ebn'r  Conklin,  of  Norwalk,  took  at 
Huntington  sundry  pieces  of  calico,  lace,  cambric,  &c. 

740.  Petition  of  Suffolk  Co.  Refugees  in  Conn. 

Feb.  5,  '81.  Capt.  John  Grennel,  who  left  L.  I.  in  '76  with  his  fa- 
mily, and  is  now  reduced,  wishes  to  return  to  recover  some  debts. 

3Iar.  8, '81.  Lodowick  Hackstaff,  Jos.  Hibbard,  Tim.  Rand,  were 
taken  by  Americans  at  Greenwich. 

3Iar.  20,  '81.  Mrs.  Shelton  and  Mr.  Strong,  living  at  Stratford, 
wish  to  visit  aged  parents  at  Brookhaven.  Ehas  Howell,  at  Saybrook, 
May  22,  '81,  wishes  to  return  with  family  and  family  stores,  to  his  aged 
father  on  L.  I. 

Richard  Seamans,  a  refugee,  largely  engaged  in  illicit  trade  ;  also 
Wm.  Hart  and  Kelsey. — No  date. 

Dr.  Wm.  Lawrence,  L.  I.  to  Saybrook,  employed  to  obtain  intelli- 
gence from  the  enemy,  and  had  permit  from  Gov.  Tryon  to  bring  off  his 
family,  furniture,  medicines,  &c. — Nov. 'SI  1 

Feb.  '81.  Jona.  Corwin — Southold  to  Norwich,  Sep.  '7G — served 
two  campaigns — discharged  for  infirmity,  wishes  to  return  with  family  to 


104  ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF 

hi3  father's  estate.  Selah  Dickerson,  Dan'l  Booth,  Joshua  Horton,  Wm. 
Welles — Southold  to  Guilford — not  able  to  procure  subsistence — ask 
liberty  to  return — negatived. 

John  Goldsmith  fled  from  Southold  to  Guilford — asks  liberty  to  re- 
turn— negatived. 

Theoph's  Halsey,  S.  Hampton  to  E.  Haddam,  Sep.  '76,  leaving  a 
farm,  stock,  &c.,  to  which  he  wishes  to  return,  as  he  has  spent  all  he 
brought  with  him. —  May,  '81. 

John  Lloyd,  jr.,  at  Hartford,  fled  from  L.  I.,  1776 — polls  and  stock 
exempted  from  taxation. 

Isaac  Overton — Southold  to  Norwich,  Sep.  1776 — infirm — allowed 
to  return. 

Benj.  Sears,  Zebedee  Osborn,  Theoph's  Halsey,  Dan'l,  Ezekiel,  Steph. 
and  Ed.  Howell,  Ezekiel  Stanford — S.  Hampton  to  E.  Haddam,  Sep. 
'76 — spent  their  property  and  desire  to  return. 

Eben'r  Wade — Southold  to  Guilford — asks  liberty  to  go  over  for 
money  for  property  sold,  and  to  carry  splints,  and  remain  3  weeks  to 
bottom  chairs. 

Ezekiel  Wicks,  a  commissioned  cruiser,  wants  his  family  removed 
from  L.  I.  to  Conn  — Sep.  4,  '81. 

Jesse  "Wicks,  on  L.  I.,  has  aided  Whigs,  and  being  detected  by  Bri- 
tish, wants  to  remove  lo  Conn. 

741.  Last  Sunday  night  a  party  of  rebels  commanded  by  Sam'l 
Heacock,  made  an  attempt  to  plunder  the  house  of  Moses  Jarvis, 
merch't  of  Huntington,  and  after  beating  down  the  doors,  one  of  the 
party  fired  into  the  chamber  window  where  Mr.  J.  and  his  wife  were 
standing,  but  fortunately  they  fell  back  at  the  flash,  but  not  soon 
enough  to  prevent  Mrs.  J.  from  being  wounded  in  the  breast  by  a 
buckshot.  Mr.  J.  being  exasperated  at  such  inhuman  conduct,  imme- 
diately returned  the  fire,  which  killed  Wm.  Lownsbury,  when  the 
whole  party  fled  with  the  utmost  precipitation,  leaving  the  dead  man 
and  his  arms  on  the  spot. — Gaine,  Oct.  1,  '81. 

742.  N.  H.,  OcU  11,  '81.  Tuesday  afternoon,  last  week,  150 
Continental  troops,  under  Major  Talmadgc,  crossed  the  Sound  in 
boats,  and  landed  in  the  evening  near  a  small  fort  on  L.  L,  15  miles  E. 
of  Lloyd's  Neck,  which  they  approached  with  so  much  secrecy  that 
they  were  not  discovered  till  challenged  by  the  sentinel,  who  fired  on 
them  and  ran  into  the  fort,  but  was  followed  so  close  that  he  had  not 
time  to  shut  the  gate.     Some  opposition  was  made  as  our  people 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  105 

entered  the  fort,  and  4  of  the  enemy  were  killed  and  2  wounded,  but 
they*  soon  surrendered.  The  fort,  barracks  and  magazines,  were 
destroyed.  Major  T.  returned  to  Fairfield  next  morning  with  20 
prisoners,  and  brought  off  70  muskets  and  a  brass  3  pounder.  We 
had  one  man  slightly  wounded. 

743,  There  w^as  a  garrison  of  140  men,  chiefly  woodcutters, 
well  armed  at  Fort  Slongo,  Treadwell's  Neck,  8  miles  E.  of  Lloyd's 
Neck.     Col.  Tallmadge  says  in  his  Journal : 

"  On  evening  of  Oct.  2,  '81,  9  o'clock,  I  embarked  from  Sauga- 
tuck  River  part  of  my  detachment,  and  placed  Major  Trescott  at  the 
head  of  it,  with  orders  to  assail  the  Fort  on  a  particular  point.  The 
troops  landed  on  L.  I.  by  4  o'clock,  and  at  dawn  of  day  the  attack 
was  made  and  the  fortress  subdued.  The  Block-house  and  other 
combustible  materials  were  burnt,  and  the  troops  and  prisoners  re- 
turned in  safety,  bringing  off  one  piece  of  handsome  brass  field 
artillery. 

Gen.  Washington  congratulates  the  army  on  the  success  of  the 
American  arms  in  the  reduction  of  Fort  Slongo  on  the  morning  of 
Oct.  3,  without  the  loss  of  a  man,  and  only  one  wounded.  Of  the 
enemy,  2  Capts.,  1  Lt.,  and  18  privates  prisoners,  besides  several 
killed  and  wounded  and  2  iron  double-fortified  4  pounders  destroyed. 
The  colors  of  the  Fort,  a  brass  3  pounder,  a  number  of  small  arms, 
ammunition,  &c.,  are  the  trophies  of  the  victory. 

[Henry  Skudder  was  furnished  by  a  neighbor  with  a  draft  and 
description  of  Ft.  Slongo,  on  the  high  land  near  Smithtown  River. 
With  this  in  his  pocket,  in  making  his  way  to  his  boat  (hid  in  a  swamp) 
his  course  lay  through  a  forest,  in  the  middle  of  which  was  a  clear 
field  by  which  ran  the  road  from  Smithtown  to  Fresh  Pond.  Just  before 
sunset  he  heard  the  tramp  of  horses  ;  he  hid  behind  a  large  fallen  tree, 
under  which  he  could  see  .50  or  60  light  horse  passing  within  10  rods 
of  him.     lie  was  not  noticed  and  escaped  to  his  boat. — Ed.] 

744.  N.  London,  Oct.  16,  '81.  Capt.  Thos.  Parks,  in  a  small 
privateer,  and  Capt.  Wattles  of  the  Comet,  with  50  volunteers,  pro- 
ceeded to  Oyster  Pond,  where  they  discovered  2  galleys  near  Shelter 
I.  endeavoring  to  get  out  of  the  bay,  but  being  closely  pursued,  both 
galleys  ran  ashore  at  Southold,  and  the  people  (60  or  70)  made  their 
escape.  One  mounted  3,  the  other,  2  cannon ;  16  muskets  and  a 
variety  of  articles  were  found  aboard.  They  had  been  cruising  in 
the  Vineyard  Sound. 


106  ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF 

745.  Before  Oct.  17,  '81.  Nathan  Peet  Jackson,  of  Fairfield, 
took  cambrick,  gauze,  &c.,  at  South  Hampton,  June  18;  also  sugar, 
muskets,  &.c.,  at  Sag  Harbor,  July  2 ;  also  44  3'ds.  check,  a  cable, 
&c.,  at  Brook  Haven,  Aug.  4  and  5. 

746.  N.  London,  Nov.  1,  '81.  Last  Monday  night  3  deserters 
from  the  British  Regt.  stationed  at  Huntington  came  to  town. 

747.  N.  London,  Nov.  30,  '81.  Last  week  Major  Davis  and 
Capt.  Grinnel,  being  ashore  at  Sag  Harbor  with  several  men,  were 
betrayed  and  taken  prisoners  by  a  Hessian  Major  and  20  light  horse. 
They  had  2  armed  boats  with  them,  which  the  enemy  were  about 
setting  on  fire,  but  Capt.  Wickham  in  an  8  gun  sloop  from  Stoning- 
ton,  about  the  same  time  coming  to  near  the  boats,  brought  them  off. 

Capt.  John  Grinnel  was  taken  at  S.  Hampton,  where  he  was  buying 
goods  for  N.  Y.  State,  Nov.  3,  '81,  and  was  kept  in  Provost  till  March 
26,  '82.  The  Legislature  in  '84  allowed  him  106  guineas  which  he  had 
spent  while  in  captivity. 

748.  Ap.  11,  '82.  Two  deserters  (natives)  came  to  N.  Haven 
from  Lloyd's  Neck. 

749.  Roh.  Roy.  Amer.  Gaz.,  May  23,  '82.  The  inhabitants  in 
Suffolk  Co.  give  their  thanks  to  Mr.  Walter  Humphreys,  Dep.  Com- 
missary of  forage,  serving  under  Dan'l  Wier,  Esq.,  Com.  Gen.,  &.C., 
&c.,  &c.,for  his  just  and  upright  conduct  in  receiving  and  weighing 
the  hay  and  straw  delivered  on  Lloyd's  Neck,  for  the  use  of  His 
Majesty's  troops,  and  for  his  ready  compliance  in  giving  proper 
receipts,  whereby  they  have,  or  may  by  immediate  application,  re- 
ceive their  payment.     Dated  Huntington,  March  27,  1782. 

Jacob  Brush,  Tim.  Carl),  Capt. ;  Eliph't  Chichester,  Hubbard  Conklin, 
Philip  Conklin,  Capt.  Lt.  ;  Gilbert  Fleet,  Lt. ;  Jona.  Jarvis,  John  and 
Ste.  Ketcham,  Jos.  Lewis,  President ;  Jona.  Mills,  Jesse  Oakes,  Nath'l 
Oakley,  Sani'l  Philips,  Zophar  Piatt,  Justice  ;  Jonas  Rogers,  Collector 
of  Forage  ;  John  Rogers,  David  Rusco,  jr. ;  John  Squier,  Selah  Strong, 
Esq.  ;  Silas  Sammis,  Jas.  Sandford,  M.  D.  ;  Epenelus,  Caleb,  Aaron, 
Nath'l,  Philetus,  and  Jonas  Smith  ;  Henry  Titus,  John  Wickcs,  Capt. 
Mihtia  ;  Dan'l  Wiggins,  M.  D.  ;  Nath'l  Williams,  jr.  ;  Nath'l  Wil- 
liams, Jonas  Williams,  Israel  Youngs,  Collector  of  Hay. 

750.  Riv.,  May  29,  '82.  On  15th,  Capt.  INIarks  of  the  Dclanccy 
whale-boat  proceeded  up  the  Sound  to  the  neighborhood  of  IMattitiick 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY.  107 

on  L.  I.,  where  he  discovered  a  whale-boat  commanded  by  Maj.  Ayres 
of  Stamford,  and  manned  with  8  men,  whom  he  attacked,  killed  Ayres, 
wounded  one,  took  his  boat,  oars,  muskets,  and  quantity  of  goods 
filched  from  the  honest  inhabitants,  who  feel  great  joy  at  the  example 
made  of  this  merciless  plunderer. 

751.  Sep.  4,  '82,  Riv.  Some  whale-boats  put  ashore  S.  side  of  L. 
I.,  near  B.  Haven,  and  robbed  the  house  of  Deacon  Hedges  of  sundry 
sorts  of  wearing  apparel  and  household  goods,  &:c.,  &c. 

752.  N.  London,  Sep.  6,  '82.  Last  Friday  6  deserters  from  the 
enemy  came  here  from  Oyster  Bay. 

753.  Sep.  8,  '82.  Capts.  Peter  Vail  and  John  Wilkinson,  from 
East  Haddam  in  2  whale-boats,  robbed  Henry  Conklin  at  Southold, 
of  dry  goods,  and  returned  to  Long  Branch.  They  first  went  to 
South  Bay,  landed  at  Canoe  Place,  and  robbed  a  wagon  of  tea  and 
powder. 

754.  N.  London,  Sep.  20,  '82.  Last  week,  two  armed  boats  from 
Con't  River,  crossed  the  Sound  and  landed  at  Canoe  Place :  the  peo- 
ple going  a  mile  or  two  on  the  Island,  met  a  man  with  a  box  of  tea, 
and  took  it  from  him.  They  afterwards  plundered  sundry  of  the  in- 
habitants of  cash  and  clothing.  The  next  morning  a  no.  of  people 
belonging  to  the  Island  assembled,  and  finding  the  boats'  crews  on  a 
beach,  dividing  their  goods,  they  fired  on  them,  killed  one  on  the  spot, 
mortally  wounded  another,  v.'ho  died  soon  after,  and  badly  wounded 
2  others.    They  have  detained  5  of  the  boats'  crews. 

755.  Fishkill,  Dec.  5,  '82.  The  enemy  are  fortifying  Huntington. 
They  have  pitched  on  a  burying  yard,  and  have  dug  up  graves  and 
gravestones,  to  the  great  grief  of  the  people  there,  who,  when  they 
remonstrated  against  the  proceeding,  received  nothing  but  abuse. 

[See  Prime,  251.] 
The  inhabitnnts  were  made  to  assist  in  pulling  the  Church  down  by 
Col.  Thompson,  against  their  solemn  remonstrances,  and  its  materials 
used  for  the  Fort,  &c. 

Petitions  of  Suffolk  Co.  Pefugees,  Conn. 

756.  Jan.  '82.  Abijah  Corey — Southold  to  Branford — old,  poor, 
asks  to  bring  over  avails  of  his  property — allowed  under  inspection. 

Jos.  Moore — S.  Hampton  to  Canterbury — granted  exemption  from 
Poll  tax.  Oct.  '82. 


lOS  ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF 

Wm.  Welles,  Southold  to  Guilford — asks  to  return — negatived. 

Jan.  '83. 

Oct.  25,  '82.  Nath'l  Gardiner  wants  to  return  to  E.  Hampton — 
has  served  in  army  till  July  last, — his  father.  Col.  Abm.  G.  died  Sept.  last. 

Nov.  '82.  Ichabod  Cole,  refugee  from  L.  I.  at  Lyme,  wants  to  sell 
his  farm  of  20  acres,  on  L.  I. — Nathan  Fordham,  of  E.  Haddam,  wants 
to  go  to  Ij.  I.  with  his  family.  Rev.  John  Storrs  (at  Mansfield)  wants 
to  return  to  L.  I. 

July  16,  '83.  Benj.  King,  of  Lyme,  wants  to  return  to  Southold. 
[Jeremiah  King  also  at  Lyme.] 

Feb.  27,  '83.  Eben'r  Piatt — at  Hartford — wants  to  go  to  L.  L  to  get 
cash. 

Mar.  4,  '83.  Maltby  Gelston,  at  E.  Haddam,  wants  to  carry  boards 
to  S.  Hampton  to  build  a  barn,  his  house  also  is  decayed.  John  Gelston 
wants  to  go  to  L.  L  Jas.  Fanning  a  Whig  (who  has  been  in  N.  Caroli- 
na) wants  to  go  to  L.  L  David  Howell,  late  of  S.  Hampton,  wants  to 
go  to  L.  L  to  bring  off  flax,  and  wool  on  sheep-skins.  [Elias  Parshall 
is  at  New  Windsor.] 

757.  INIr.  Isaac  Smith,  of  Brook  Haven,  in  the  Virginia  priva- 
teer, vi^as  killed  in  boarding  the  ship  Rennet.  He  was  an  officer  of 
JMarines,  a  very  brave  man,  and  is  much  regretted. 

Roh.  Gaz.  Dec.  26,  '82. 

758.  Thos.  Wickham,  Esq.,  commander  of  an  armed  sloop,  took 
a  boat  laden  vv^ith  provisions,  bound  and  proceeding  on  a  vo3^age 
to  L.  L  Jan.  30,  '83. 

759.  March  27,  '83.  IVfost  of  the  barracks  at  Huntington  are 
burnt,  reported  to  be  fired  by  the  soldiers,  who  arc  dissatisfied  with 
the  service.  Whig  Paper. 

760.  By  permission  of  Gov.  Robertson,  a  lottery  for  the  benefit 
of  Caroline  Church  will  be  drawn  at  Brook  Haven  under  direction  of 
the  Wardens  and  vestry  of  the  Church.  Selah  Strong,  Esq.,  John 
IMoore,  Esq.,  Joseph  Brewster  and  Henry  Nicoll,  JManagers. 

Riv.  Ap.  9,  '83. 

761.  Henry  Hawley,  of  Stratford,  Con't,  put  in  Provost,  May 
5,  '83,  for  carrying  a  sergeant  and  5  Yagers  from  Huntington  (who 
had  deserted)  to  the  N.  England  shore. 

762.  Four  deserters  from  the  enemy  came  to  N.  London,  via. 
L.  L  May  23,  '83. 


SUFFOLK   COUNTY.  109 

763.  Riv.  June  4,  '83.  Stolen  out  of  a  stable  at  Huntington, 
night  of  May  28,  2  chestnut  Horses,  belonging  to  Q.  M.  Gen.  De- 
part., marked  on  off  thighs  J.  C.  2  guineas  reward  will  be  paid  by 
Col.  Dewormb  at  McGowan's  Pass. 

O"  Any  officer  commanding  on  L.  I.  is  requested  to  forward  them. 

764.  $10  Reward  Ran  away,  a  negro  man,  Retus,  speaks 
English  w^ell  and  plays  on  the  fiddle,  took  with  him  a  pair  of  brown 
velvet  breeches,  fiddle,  &c. 

WM.  CLARKE. 
Brook  Haven,  July  8,  '83. 

765.  Isaac  Alger  and  Nath'l  Parker  put  in  Provost,  July  18,  '83, 
for  robbing  Piatt  Carll, — and  violently  beating  him  and  family,  were 
tried  by  Court  Martial,  and  ordered  to  be  executed  Sept.  10. 

766.  Juhj  29,  '83.  An  affray  happened  between  Elisha  Brown 
of  N.  Hampton,  and  one  Norton,  late  of  L.  I.  (of  the  class  of  people 
called  Cowboys),  in  which  B.  was  killed.    Norton  escaped. 

767.  On  Thursday  last,  as  Solomon  Davis  (formerly  a  commander 
of  a  vessel  in  the  London  trade)  was  returning  in  his  wagon,  from 
N.  Y.  to  his  residence  at  Setauket,  he  was  intercepted  by  2  men, 
who  firing  their  pistols  or  fusils,  shot  him  dead  on  the  spot.  He  was 
not  robbed,  as  we  are  informed  that  his  watch  with  8  guineas  were 
found  in  his  pockets.  Gaine,  Aug.  4,  '83. 

John  Benson,  a  mulatto,  who  shot  Capt.  Sol.  Davis,  near  Jamaica, 
was  hung  at  N.  Y.  for  burglary,  Friday  before  Sep  2G,  '85. — Loudon. 

768.  Annanias  Piatt,  John  Smith,  David  Ralph,  Nath.  Skudder, 
of  Huntington,  were  put  in  Provost,  Sep.  2,  '83,  accused  of  robbery 
on  L.  L,  and  sentenced  to  pay  a  fine  of  jGlOO  sterling,  each,  in  15 
days  ;  or  should  his  Majesty's  troops  leave  before  that  time,  and  the 
fine  not  paid,  they  are  to  receive  1000  lashes  on  the  back,  with  the 
cat-o'nine-tails. — Cornelius  Carll,  Esa  Whitman,  Silas  Sammis,  and 
Jacob  Lawrence  were  put  in  Provost,  but  acquitted. 

Riv.  Nov.  '83. 

769.  What  money  may  have  been  loaned  to  the  State  by  the 
Whigs  of  Suffolk,  cannot  be  known  till  Gov.  CUnton's  papers  are 
made  accessible.     (See  Queens  Co.,  316.) 

In  '81,  Capt.  Nath'l  Norton  was  secretly  commissioned  by  Gov. 
(>Iinton,  to  obtain  loans  of  money  from  wealthy  Whig  inhabitants  of 
6 


110  ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF    SUFFOLK    COUNTY. 

L.  I.  for  the  use  of  Gov't,  and  to  conceal  the  object,  he  was  appoint- 
ed to  the  command  of  the  "  Suffolk,"  which  cruised  between  Sands 
Point  and  N.  Haven.  He  obtained  large  sums  on  the  faith  of  Govern- 
ment. Tliompson,  II.  496. 

There  are  many  traditions  of  the  war  to  which  we  can  barely 
allude  without  vouching  for  their  truth  :  such  as  that  a  Maj.  Davis, 
of  E.  Hampton,  became  a  prisoner  in  the  latter  part  of  the  war,  and 
died  in  N.  Y.  by  poison  administered  in  his  chocolate  ;  and  that  Maj. 
Strong  was  murdered  by  the  British,  and  that  Wm.  Tallmadge 
was  taken  at  the  battle  of  Brooklyn,  and  literally  starved  to  death  in 
prison,  and  that  Ezra  Weeks  waylaid  and  shot  a  British  officer. 

The  accounts  of  the  people  of  Huntington,  for  property  taken  by 
the  British,  supported  by  receipts  of  British  officers,  or  other 
evidence,  amounted  to  £7249.  9.  6  :  and  was  supposed  not  to  con- 
tain one-fourth  of  what  was  taken.  They  were  sent  to  N.  Y.  to  be 
laid  before  the  Commissioners,  but  were  not  attended  to. 

Wood's  L.  I.  p.  90. 

May  6,  '84.  The  Legislature  imposed  a  tax  of  £37,000  on  L.  I. 
(making  £10,000  for  Suffolk,  £13,000  for  Kings,  and  £14,000  for 
Queens,)  as  a  compensation  to  the  other  parts  of  the  State  for  not 
having  been  in  a  condition  to  support  the  war  from  '76  to  '83,  called 
the  "  back  tax."  Wood's  L.  I.  p.  '81. 

We  have  no  account  of  the  celebration  of  peace  in  Suffolk  Co- 
except  the  following : 

At  return  of  peace  Col.  Tallmadge  visited  his  native  place, 
where  the  patriotic  citizens  got  up  a  festival,  roasted  an  ox  whole, 
and  made  the  Major  master  of  ceremonies.  Simms,  549. 

The  influences  of  war  are  always  demoralizing,  but  it  was  es- 
pecially disastrous  to  Suffolk.  Many  Whigs  had  abandoned  their 
farms  and  stock — fled  to  the  Main,  where  they  became  involved  in 
debt,  and  at  the  peace  returned  poor.  They  found  their  farms  out 
of  order,  buildings  dilapidated,  fences  gone,  stock  caiTied  off,  wood- 
land cut  off,  churches  deserted  or  torn  down.  No  doubt  the  Whigs 
sued  for  trespass  some  Loyalists  who  remained  behind,  but  we  have 
no  accounts  of  the  trials. 


KINGS  COUNTY. 


REVOLUTIONARY  INCIDENTS 

OF 

KINGS  COUNTY. 


PART  I. 

REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT KINGS    COUNTY. 

770.  Fiathush,  Ap.  15,  '75.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Com- 
mittee chosen  by  the  several  towns  of  Kings  County,  at  the 
County  Hall :  present  from  Fiathush,  David  Clarkson,  Ad- 
rian Voorhies,  Jacobus  Vandeventer,  John  Vanderbelt ;  from 
Bushvnck,  Thcodorus  Poliiemus,  John  Titus,  Jost  Duryea, 
Abm.  Van  Ranst,  Abm.  Lequere  ;  from  Brooklyn,  Simon 
Boerum,  Henry  Williams,  Jeremiah  Remsen,  John  Suydam, 
Johannes  Bergen,  Jacob  Sharpc,  Rem  Cowenhoven  ;  from 
N.  Utretcht,  Petrus  Van  Pelt,  Denice  Denice,  Adrian  Hege- 
man  ;  from  Gravesend,  Richard  Stillvvell,  Isaac  Denice ; 
Simon  Boerum,  Esq.,  was  chosen  Chairman,  when  it  was 
resolved  unanimously,  that  Simon  Boerum,  Richard  Stillwell, 
Thcodorus  Polhcmus,  Denice  Denice  and  Jeremiah  Vander- 
bilt,  or  a  major  part  of  them,  be  appointed  Deputies  to  the 
Convention,  for  choosing  Delegates  to  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, to  be  held  at  Philadelphia,  in  May. 

Justice  Cowenhoven   appeared  and  said,  that  FlailaniU 


114  REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 

would  not  put  a  negative  on  the  proceedings,  but  chose  to 
remain  neutral. 

ABM.  VAN  RANST,  Clerk. 

111.  At  a  general  Town  Pvleeting,  regularly  warned,  at 
Brooklyn,  May  20,  '75,  the  Magistrates  and  Freeholders  met, 
and  voted  Jer.  Remsen,  Esq.,  into  the  chair,  and  Leffert 
LefFerts,  Esq.,  Clerk. 

Taking  into  our  serious  consideration  the  expediency  and 
propriety  of  concurring  with  the  freeholders  and  freemen  of 
the  City  and  County  of  N.  Y.,  and  the  other  Colonies,  Town- 
ships and  Precincts,  within  this  Province,  for  holding  a  Pro- 
vincial Congress  to  advise,  consult,  watch  over  and  defend, 
at  this  very  alarming  crisis,  all  our  civil  and  religious  rights, 
liberties  and  privileges,  according  to  their  collective  pru- 
dence. 

After  duly  considering  the  unjust  plunder  and  inhuman 
carnage  committed  on  tlie  property  and  persons  of  our 
brethren  in  the  Massachusetts,  wlio,  with  the  other  N.  Eng- 
land Colonies,  are  now  deemed  by  the  Mother  Country  to 
be  in  a  state  of  actual  rebellion,  by  which  declaration  Eng- 
land hath  put  it  beyond  her  own  power  to  treat  with  New 
England,  or  to  propose  or  receive  any  terms  of  reconciliation, 
until  those  Colonies  shall  submit  as  a  conquered  country. 
The  first  effort  to  elFect  which  was  by  military  and  naval 
force,  the  next  attempt  is,  to  bring  a  famine  among  them, 
by  depriving  them  of  both  their  natural  and  acquired  right  of 
fishing.  Further  contemplating  the  very  unhappy  situation 
to  which  the  powers  at  home,  by  oppressive  measures,  have 
driven  all  the  other  Protestant  Provinces,  we  have  all  evils 
in  their  power  to  fear,  as  they  have  already  declared  all  the 
Provinces  aiders  and  abettors  of  rebellion  :     Therefore, 

\st.  Resolved,  That  Henry  Williams  and  Jer.  Remsen, 
Esqrs.,  be  now  elected  Deputies  for  this  Township,  to  meet 
May  22,  with  other  Deputies  in  Provincial  Convention,  in 


KINGS    COUNTY.  115 

N.  Y.,  and  there  to  consider,  determine  and  do,  all   pruden- 
tial and  necessary  business. 

2d.  Resolved,  That   we,  confiding  in    the    wisdom    and 
equity  of  said  Convention,  do  agree  to  observe  all  warrantable 
acts,  associations  and  orders,  as  said  Congress  shall  direct. 
Signed  by  order  of  the  Town  Meeting, 

LEFFERT  LEFFERTS,  Clerk. 

772.  At  a  meeting  of  the  several  Deputies  of  the  different  Town- 
ships in  Kings  Co.,  (at  Flatbush,  May  22,  '75,)  for  the  purpose  of 
electing  Delegates  to  represent  said  County  in  Provincial  Congress, 
now  held  in  the  City  of  N.  Y. ;  agreeable  to  said  meeting,  they  here- 
by appoint  Richard  Stillwell,  Theodorus  Polhemus,  John  tefferts, 
Nich.  Cowenhoven,  Johannes  E.  Lott,  John  Vanderbilt,  Henry 
Williams,  and  Jer.  Remsen,  Esqrs.,  or  any  three  of  them,  Delegates 
to  represent  and  fully  to  act  in  behalf  of  the  before-mentioned  County. 

ABM.  E.  LOTT,  Sec. 

773.  At  a  meeting  of  the  company  of  light  horse  for  Brooklyn,  Sep. 
15,  '75,  at  Adolph  Waldron's,  Innholder,  at  Brooklyn  Ferry,  present 

Wm,  Boerum,  Rem  A.  Remsen,  Adolph  Waldron, 

Isaac  J.  Sabring,         David  Titus,  Geo.  Powers, 

Sam'l  Etherington,    Jos.  Smith,  Wm.  &  Thos.  Everitt, 

Jacob  Sebring,  jr.,      Jacob  Kemper,  John  Hicks, 

John  Reade,  John  Guest,  Wm.  Chardavoyne, 

Rob.  Galbraithe,         Nich.  Van  Dam,  Thos.  Hazard. 

Adolph  Waldron  was  chosen  Chairman,  and  Isaac  J.  Sebring, 
Clerk.  They  then  elected  Adolph  Waldron,  Capt. ;  Wm.  Boerum, 
1st  Lt.  (in  the  place  of  Rem.  A.  Remsen  declined)  ;  Thos.  Everitt, 
2d  Lt. ;  Jacob  Sebring,  jr..  Cornet,  and  Isaac  Sebring,  Q.  M. 

774.  In  consequence  of  the  ill-success  of  the  British  arms  at  Bos- 
ton, the  Ministry  resolved  to  remove  the  seat  of  war  to  New-York, 
with  the  design  of  cutting  off  all  intercourse  between  the  Southern 
and  New  England  States. 

Gen.  Lee  with  1700  men  reached  N.Y,  Feb.  3,  '76,  for  the  purpose 
of  disarming  the  Loyalists  and  constructing  fortifications  in  and  about 
N.  Y.  He  barricaded  all  the  streets  leading  into  Broadway,  erected 
a  battery  on  an  eminence  in  the  rear  of  Trinity  Church,  at  Hellgate, 


116  REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 

the  Highlands,  Kingsbridge,  Paulus  Hook,  Red  Hook,  and  on  the 
N.  W.  side  of  Governor's  Island. 

Feb.  18,  he  posted  400  of  the  Penn.  troops  from  Wallabout  to 
Gowanus.  Those  who  could  not  procure  lodgment  were  billeted  on 
the  inhabitants  of  Brooklyn. 

775.  Feh.  28.  The  people  of  Brooklyn  wish  to  know  if  they 
shall  be  paid  for  billeting  soldiers.  Congress  allowed  them  7s.  per 
week  for  a  room  for  officers,  and  Is.  Ad.  for  privates. 

776.  New-York,  Feh.  23,  1776. 
Gen.  Lee  is  taking  every  necessary  step  to  fortify  and  defend 

the  city.  The  men  of  war  are  gone  out  of  our  harbor  ;  the  Phenix 
is  at  the  Hook ;  the  Asia  lies  near  Bedlow's  Island.  To  see  the 
vast  number  of  houses  shut  up,  one  would  think  the  city  almost 
evacuated.  Women  and  children  are  scarce  to  be  seen  in  the  streets. 
Troops  are  daily  coming  in  :  they  break  open  and  quarter  themselves 
in  any  houses  they  find  shut  up.  Mr.  Jacob  Walton  was  ordered  to 
give  up  his  house,  which  is  now  occupied  with  soldiers. 

FRED^K  RHINELANDER. 

777.  March  6,  '76.  Congress  recommended  to  the  Committee 
of  Kings  Co.,  to  furnish  Col.  Ward  brush  for  fascines,  wood  for 
pickets,  and  other  timber  to  complete  the  works  on  L.  I.  Col.  W. 
had  519  men.  Jour.  341. 

778.  Col.  Ward  was  ordered  (March  8)  to  detach  2  parties  of 
20  men  each,  with  3  days'  provisions,  in  order  to  stop  the  communi- 
cation of  the  people  with  the  Phenix.  He  was  to  hide  his  guard  in 
bushes  near  the  shore,  and  just  about  daylight  to  send  a  man  along 
shore  below  the  Narrows  to  cut  a  hole  in  the  bottom  of  the  boats,  or 
take  away  the  oars  and  sails.  He  was  also  to  seize  tlie  pilots — es- 
pecially one  Frank  Jones,  who  decoyed  vessels  to  the  Phenix. 

779.  March  6.  Lord  Stirling  succeeded  Gen.  Leo,  and  con- 
tinued in  command  till  Wasiiington's  arrival  in  April. 

March  13,  '76.  Extract  from  Regulations  for  defence 
of  N.  Y.,  agreed  to  between  Stirling  and  Provincial  Con- 
gress, when  the  English  were  expected  from  Boston. 

1.  All  whites  and  negroes  shall  do  fatigue  duty. 


KINGS    COUNTY.  117 

6.  The  inhabitants  of  Kings  Co.  shall  give  assistance  to  Col. 
Ward,  by  turning  out  for  service  at  least  one  half  their  male  popu- 
lation (negroes  included)  every  day  at  the  fortifications,  with  spades, 
hoes,  and  pickaxes — to  begin  Friday  next. 

7.  A  guard  of  six  of  the  Kings  Co.  troop  to  be  posted  on  some 
heights  near  the  west  end  of  Nassau  Island,  to  reconnoitre  the  en- 
trance of  the  enemy  into  Sandy  Hook,  or  their  appearance  on  the 
coast,  and  give  immediate  information  to  the  commanding  officer. — 
See  Queens  Co.,  42. 

*  Capt.  Waldron's  light  horse  kept  a  look-out  on  the  southern  coast 
of  Kings  Co.  till  Ap.  10,  when  Col.  Hand's  regiment  of  riflemen  was 
stationed  at  N.  Utrecht. 

[Waldron  lived  at  Preakness,  N.  J.,  during  the  war. — Ed.] 

780.  Ap.  15,  '76.  Monday  night  1000  Continental  troops  took 
possession  of  Governor's  Island  and  began  to  fortify  it,  and  a  regi- 
ment went  over  to  Red  Hook  and  fortified  it  likewise. — Gaine. 

June  11,  '76.  I  am  now  stationed  at  Red  Hook,  about  4  miles  from 
N.  Y.  It  is  on  an  island  situated  so  as  to  command  the  entrance  of  the 
harbor  entirely,  where  we  have  a  fort  with  four  18  pounders,  to  fire  en 
barbette,  that  is,  over  the  top  of  the  works,  which  is  vastly  better  than 
firing  through  embrasures,  as  we  can  now  bring  all  our  guns  to  bear  on 
the  same  object  at  once.  The  fort  is  named  Defiance,  and  thought  to 
be  one  of  the  most  important  posts  we  have. 

There  are  two  families  here, — Mr.  Van  Dyke  and  his  son,  good 
stanch  Whigs,  and  very  clever  folks.  I  rode  out  with  the  young  man 
to  Flushing,  16  miles  ofi",  where,  and  in  most  of  the  country  towns  about, 
the  forces  from  the  city  have  taken  shelter.  Scarce  a  house  we  rode 
by,  but  Mr.  Van  L  yke  would  say,  "  there  lives  a  rascally  Tory." — Shaw. 

When  the  Rose  and  Phenix  ran  by  our  batteries,  July  12,  they  did 
not  compliment  Red  Hook  so  much  as  to  return  her  fire,  being,  as  Shaw 
says,  two  miles  distant. — Ed. 

781.  Explanation  of  the  American  Lines  of  Defence  at  New-York. 

See  Map. 

a.  M'Dougal's  Battery,  on  a  hill  west  of,  and  very  near.  Trinity 
Church. 

b.  Fort  George,  now  the  Battery.  North  of  it  was  the  "  Broadway 
Barrier;'  near  the  Bowling  Green,  or  King's  Statue.     It  had  2  guns. 

c.  Battery  at  the  ship  yards. 

6* 


118  REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 

d.  Crown  Point  Battery,  now  Corlaer's  Hook. 

e.  Main,  or  Battery  Cliannei,  where  I  think  chcvaux  de  frise  were 
sunk. 

/.  Governor's  Island. 

g.  Fort  at  Red  Hook,  on  Long  Island.     It  had  5  guns. 

h.  Fort  Stirling,  between  Hicks  and  Clinton  streets,  and  east  of 
Pierrepont — open  in  the  rear  ;  on  land  of  Jacob  Hicks.    It  had  7  guns. 

?*.  Fort  Putnam,  on  a  hill  then  covered  with  heavy  wood,  (Conover's 
Boschje,)  which  was  partly  cut  down.     It  had  5  guns. 

j.  Fort  Greene — the  southeast  front  of  the  Lines  on  land  of  Johan- 
nis  Debevoice  and  Rutger  Vanbrunt.     It  had  5  guns. 

k.  A  conical  hill,  very  steep,  called  Ponkiesbergh,  Cobble  Hill,  or 
Corkscrew  Fort.  It  had  3  guns.  "  The  trenches  went  round  and 
round,  and  it  had  a  platform  on  top  for  cannon."  So  says  and  old 
soldier. 

Z.  Redoubt  at  the  Mill,  (was  it  Fort  Box  ?)  on  Nicholas  Boerum's 
hill.     It  commanded  the  Mill  (4),  and  had  one  gun. 

Batteries  in  and  near  yew-York,  March  24,  '7G. — Force,  V.  480. 

Grenadier's,  or  Circular  Battery,  5  guns,  near  the  air-furnace  on  the 
bank  of  the  North  River. 

Jersey's  Battery,  5  guns,  a  little  to  the  northward  of  the  first. 

M'Dougall's  Battery,  4  guns,  to  the  west  of  Trinity  Church,  and 
very  near  it. 

Broadway  Barrier,  2  guns,  very  near  the  Bowling  Green,  or  King's 
Statue. 

Coentie's  Battery,  5  guns,  on  Ten  Eyck's  wharf. 

Stirhng's  Battery,  8  guns,  on  L.  I.,  and  nearly  opposite  the  Fly 
Market.  In  the  rear  of  this  there  is  to  be  a  citadel,  which  will  take  up 
about  5  acres,  called  The  Congress. 

Waterbury's  Battery,  7  guns,  at  the  ship  yards. 

Badlam's  Battery,  8  guns,  on  Rufger's  first  hill,  just  above  the  last 
mentioned. 

Thompson's  Battery,  9  guns,  at  Iloorne's  Hook. 

Independent  Battery,  12  guns,  on  Bayard's  Mount. 

Besides  the  above,  there  is  a  breast-work,  or  barrier,  at  Peck's,  Beek- 
man's,  Burling's,  and  Fly  Slips ;  also  at  the  Coflee  House,  Old  Slip, 
Coentie's  Market  and  the  Exchange,  and  one  midway  of  Broad-st.  of 


this  construction         ^  ;  and  the  same  are  made  in  several  streets 

leading  from  the  North  River  to  Broadway.   Also  a  line  of  circumvalla- 
tion  from  river  to  river. 


KINGS    COUNTY.  119 

Names  of  Batteries,  May  22,  '76,  at  New-York  City. 

Grand  Battery,  south  part  of  town,  thirteen  32  pounders,  one  24, 
three  18's,  two  12's,  one  brass  mortar,  3  iron  mortars  prepared. 

Fort  George,  immediately  above  it,  two  12  pounders,  four  32'8. 

White  Hall  Battery,  left  of  Grand  Battery,  two  32  pounders. 

Oyster  Battery,  behind  Washington's  head-quarters,  two  32  pound- 
ers, three  12's. 

Grenadier's,  or  Circular  Battery, nediX  Brewhouse  on  N.  River,  three 
12  pounders,  2  mortars  prepared. 

Jersey  Battery,  left  of  Grenadier,  two  12  pounders,  three  32's. 

Bayard's  Hill  redoubt,  9  eight  pounders,  four  3's,  six  royal  and  co- 
horn  mortars. 

Spencer's  Redoubt,  on  a  hill  where  Gen.  Spencer  is  encamped,  two 
12  pounders,  four  field-pieces  proposed. 

Waterhury's  Battery,  is  a  fascine  Battery  on  a  wharf  below  Spen- 
cer's redoubt,  two  12  pounders. 

Badlam's  Redoubt,  is  on  a  hill  directly  above  it,  near  Jew's  burying 
ground. 

On  Long  Island, 

At  the  redoubts  are  no  artillery  men,  two  12  pounders,  two  9's,  four 
3's  of  brass. 

Fort  Stirling,  Lt.  Randall  and  12  men,  four  32  pounders,  two  18's. 

Red  Hook,  Capt.  Foster,  one  3  pounder,  four  18's. 

Governor's  Island,  Capt.  Craft,  four  18  pounders,  four  32's. 

Paulus  Hook,  Capt.  Dana  proposed,  two  12  pounders,  three  32's, 
two  3's. 

The  Park,  as  a  reserve,  Capt.  Drury,  to  be  run  where  the  enemy 
makes  the  greatest  attack,  twelve  6  pounders,  eight  3's,  one  24,  three 
3's,  nine  12's. 

782.  Officers  chosen  by  the  different  Companies  in  Kings  Co.^ 
who  have  signed  the  Declaration  and  taken  tlieir  Com- 
missions,— March,  '76. 

LIGHT  HORSE. 

Brooklyn. — Adolph  Waldron,  Capt. ;  Wm.  Boerum,  1st  Lt. ;  Thoa. 
Everitt,  2d  Lt. ;  Jacob  Sebring,  Ensign  ;  Isaac  Sebring,  Q.  Master. 

Kings  Co. — Lamb't  Suydam,  Capt. ;  Dan'l  Rapelye,  1st  Lt. ;  Jacob 
Bloom,  2d  Lt.  ;    Peter  Vandevoort,  Ensign  ;   Peter  Wykoff,  Q.  Master. 


120  REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 


Flailands. — Jeremiah  Vanderbilt,  Capt. ;  Albert  Stoohoff,  1st  Lt. ; 
Thos.  Elsworth,  2d  Lt.  ;  Peter  Vanderbilt,  Ensign. 

Gravesend. — Rem  Williamson,  Capt.  ;  Samuel  Hubbard,  1st  Lt. ; 
Garret  Williamson,  2d  Lt.  ;  John  Lane,  Ensign. 

Half  of  Brooklyn. — Barent  Johnson,  Capt. ;  Barent  LefTerts,  1st  Lt. ; 
Jost  Debevoice,  2d  Lt.  ;  Martin  Schenck,  Ensign. 

Flaibush. — Cornelius  Vandeveer,  Capt.  ;  Peter  LefTerts,  1st  Lt.  ; 
John  Vanduyn,  2d  Lt.  ;  John  Benham,  Ensign. 

Half  of  Brooklyn. — Fer'd  Suydam,  Capt.  ;  Simon  Bergen,  1st  Lt.  ; 
Wm.  Brower,  2d  Lt.  ;  Jacob  Stellenwert,  Ensign. 

Bushwyck. — John  Titus,  Capt.  ;  Abm.  Van  Ranst,  1st  Lt. ;  Peter 
Colyer,  2d  Lt.  ;  John  Skillman,  Ensign. 

N.  Utrecht. — Adrian  Van  Brunt,  Capt.  ;  Adrian  Hegeman,  1st  Lt. ; 
Harmanus  Barkulo,  2d  Lt. ;  Wm.  Barre,  Ensign. 

783.  March  11,  '76.     Kings  Co.  Connmittee  appointed  : 
Rutgert  Van  Brunt,  Col.  ;  Nich.  Cowenlioven,  Lt.  Col. ;    Johan- 
nes Titus,  1st  Major  ;  John  Vanderbilt,  2d  Major  ;  Geo.  Carpenter, 
Adj. ;  Nich.  Cowenhoven,  Q.  M.  of  their  Regiment  of  militia. 

Jour.  351. 

784.  Feb.  18,  '76.  Congress  requests  the  attendance  of  the 
absent  members  from  Kings  Co.  Accordingly  Messrs.  Cowenhoven, 
Vanderbilt,  Vanbrunt  and  LeJETerts,  take  their  seats. 

[Their  previous  attendance  had  been  quite  irregular. — Ed.'\ 

Ap.  16,  '76.  John  LefTerts,  Nich.  Cowenhoven,  Jeremiah  Remsen, 
Theodorus  Polhemus,  LefTert  Lefierts,  Rutgert  Vanbrunt,  Jeremiah 
Vanderbilt  and  John  Vanderbilt,  were  chosen  to  make  a  representation 
out  of  their  body  for  the  Provincial  Congress,  and  that  any  four,  three, 
two,  or  one,  may  be  a  quorum,  as  appears  by  the  certificate  of  John 
LefTerts,  Chairman,  and  Abm.  Van  Ranst,  Clerk  of  the  Committee  of 
Kings  Co. 

785.  Jim(?  21, '76.  Convention  recommend  that  all  boats  in 
the  bay  S.  and  S.  W.  of  Kings  Co.,  bo  drawn  up,  and  the  oars  and 
sails  secured,  so  as  to  prevent  the  communication  of  the  dit^afTected 
with  the  enemy. 

June  21.  Col.  G.  Brewerton,  at  Flatlands,  was  summoned  be- 
fore Congress.     Mayor   Rhitthcws   was   seized   at   Flatbush.     His 


KINGS    COUKTY.  121 

house  surrounded  one  o'clock  at  night,  and  a  vain  search  made  for 
his  papers.     He  was  sent  to  Conn,  where  he  broke  jail  and  escaped. 

786.  Col.  Van  Brunt  delivered  to  Congress  the  quota  of  Kings 
Co.,  to  reinforce  the  Continental  Army  at  N.  Y.,  viz.  :  58  men  and 
Jacques  Rapalje,  Capt.,  and  Geo.  Carpenter,  2d  Lt. — June  27,  '76. 

787.  On  Thursday,  the  Asia  being  in  rear  of  the  British  fleet 
in  the  Narrows,  was  fired  on  by  a  small  battery  on  L.  I.,  when  she 
returned  the  compliment  with  forty  24  pounders.  One  of  which 
lodged  in  the  wall  of  Mr.  Bennet's  house,  and  3  shot  had  near  done 
damage  to  Mr.  Denyse's  house,  one  missed  his  kitchen,  a  2d  struck 
his  bam,  and  a  3d  destroyed  the  garden  fence  opposite  the  front  door 
of  the  mansion  house.  July  8,  '76. 

788.  Gen.  Hoice  to  Lord  Geo.  Germaine. 

Staten  Island,  July  7,  8,  '76. 
The  Halifax  fleet  arrived  June  29,  at  Sandy  Hook,  where  I  arrived 
four  days  sooner.  I  met  with  Gov.  Tryon  on  board  ship  at  the  Hook,  and 
many  gentlemen,  fast  friends  to  Government,  attending  him,  from  whom  I 
have  had  the  fullest  information  of  the  state  of  the  Rebels,  who  are  numer- 
ous and  very  advantageously  posted ,  with  strong  intrenchments,  both  upon 
L.  I.  and  at  N.  Y.,  with  more  than  100  pieces  of  cannon  for  the  defence  of 
the  town  towards  the  sea,  and  to  obstruct  the  passage  of  the  fleet  up  the 
North  river,  besides  a  considerable  field  train  of  artillery.  We  passed 
the  Narrows  with  three  ships  of  war,  and  the  1st  division  of  transports  ; 
landed  the  Grenadiers  and  Light  Infantry,  as  the  ships  came  up,  on  this 
Island,  to  the  great  joy  of  a  most  loyal  people,  long  suflering  on  that  ac- 
count under  the  oppression  of  the  Rebels  stationed  among  them,  who 
precipitately  fled  on  the  approach  of  the  shipping.  The  remainder  of 
the  troops  landed  next  day  and  night,  and  are  now  distributed  in  canton- 
ments, where  they  have  the  best  refreshments.  I  propose  waiting  here 
for  the  English  fleet,  or  for  the  arrival  of  Lt.  Gov.  Clinton,  in  readiness 
to  proceed,  unless  by  some  unexpected  change  of  circumstances  it  should 
in  the  mean  time  be  found  expedient  to  act  with  the  present  force. 

To  the  Hon.  Provincial  Congress,  July  26. 

789.  Whereas  Col.  Rutgert  Van  Brunt  has  demanded  every 
fourth  man  of  our  companies, — we,  Jeremiah  Vanderbilt,  Cornelius 
Vandcvcer,  Barent  Johnson,  Lambert  Suydam,  Rem  Williamson, 
and  John  Titus,  Captains  of  Kings  Co.  militia,  pray  Congress  to 
indulge  us  with  the  men  under  our  command  to  execute  said  Re- 


122  REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 

solves  of  July  20,  relating  to  Kings  Co.  stock,  without  being  paid, 
provided  it  be  in  Kings  Co.,  and  we  promise  to  be  ready  when  called 
on,  to  drive  stock  into  the  interior,  guard  thfe  coast  and  protect  the 
inhabitants. 

[July  30.   Congress  refused  the  above  request. — Ed] 

790.  Aug.  10.  The  Convention  having  heard  that  Kings  Co. 
had  determined  not  to  oppose  the  enemy,  ordered  a  Committee  to  re- 
pair to  said  County,  and  if  the  report  should  be  true,  to  disarm  and 
secure  the  disaffected  inhabitants ;  remove  or  destroy  the  stock  of 
grain,  and  if  necessary,  lay  the  whole  county  waste^dinA  for  the  execu- 
tion of  these  purposes,  to  apply  to  Gen.  Greene  for  such  assistance  as 
they  may  want.  Jour.  568. 

791.  Col.  Conover,  Aug.  14,  '76,  requests  Commissions  for 
Thos.  Lane,  Capt. ;  Nich.  Vanbrunt,  1st  Lt. ;  Mich'l  Van  Cleef,  2d 
Lt. ;  to  command  the  drafts.  Also  for  Harmanus  Casper,  Lt.,  to 
command  20  men,  not  militia,  but  to  be  under  Capt.  Lane. 

792.  Kings  Co.  not  having  elected  any  deputies  since  May  last, 
Mr.  Polbemus  (Aug.  14)  appeared  in  Convention,  and  said  the 
County  Committee  had  met,  and  directed  him  to  attend  as  a  member, 
until  another  election  is  had — ordered  tiint  Mr.  Polhemus  take  his 
seat  and  represent  said  County,  except  in  matters  which  related  to 
the  formation  of  Government.  Journal,  572. 

793.  The  Convention  vote  the  election  of  Kings  Co.  Aug.  19, 
defective,  as  the  Deputies  are  not  authorized  to  frame  a  new  form  of 
government. — New  election  ordered,  Aug,  24,  but  never  held. 

794.  Kings  Co.  Troop  of  Horse. 
Lambert  Suydam,  Capt.  *Dan'l  Rapalje,  1st  Lt. 

*Jacob  Bloom,  2d  Lt.  Peter  Wykoff,  Q.  M. 

*Peter  Vandevoort,  Ensign.  Hend'k  Suydam,  CPk, 

*Hend'k  Johnson,  Serg't.  Hend'k  Suydam,  jr.,  Serg't. 

John  Nostrand,      do.  *John  Blaw,  Trumpeter. 

Privates. 

*Reynier  Suydam,  Jacob  Suydam,  Isaac  Boerum, 

*John  Vanderveer,  Isaac  Snedeker,  John  Ryerson, 

Rutgert  Vanbrunt,         Chas.  Debevois,  Benj.  Seaman, 

Roelof  Terhune,  Andrew  Casper,  Thos.  Belts, 

Martin  Kershaw,  Peter  Miller,  Hend'k  WykofT. 


KINGS    COUNTY.  123 

Brooklyn  Troop  of  Horse. 
*Wm.  Boerum,  1st  Lt.  Thos  Everitt,  2d  Lt. 

*Jacob  Sebring,  Ensign.  *Isaac  Sebring,  Q.  M. 

Frivates. 

*Joseph  Sebring,  *John  Hicks,  *George  Powel, 

*Wm.  Elsworth,  *Jerem'h  Brower,  *James  Casper. 

*Wm.  Boerum,  *Adolphus  Brower,         Joseph  Smith, 

Wm.  Everitt,  Abm.  Rapalje,  Stephen  Schenck, 

Robert  Galbraith,  Sam'l  Etherington,       Nicholas  Vandam. 

[The  above  Troops  were  first  in  service  under  Gen.  Greene,  who 
bid  them  seize  for  Commissary  Brown  the  fat  stock  of  the  disaffected  ; 
next  they  drove  off  st%ck  under  Gen,  WoodhuU;  after  the  defeat  at 
Brooklyn,  as  they  were  proceeding  east  to  join  Col.  Livingston,  they 
were  ordered  off  the  Island  by  Col.  Potter,  and  accordingly,  those  to 
whose  name  a  star  is  prefixed,  crossed  the  Sound  at  Huntington  to  Nor- 
walk,  leaving  their  horses  behind,  which  were  lost  to  them.  The  men 
were  in  Duchess  Co.,  Oct.  4,  '76,  in  destitute  circumstances,  and  re- 
ceived their  pay  from  the  Convention. — MS.  Jour.,  XVH,  529,  and 
XXXn,  4G,  62. 

P.  Vandevoort,  jr.,  left  father,  mother,  wife,  and  two  children  at 
Bedford,  and  had  not  yet  seen  them,  Feb.  14, '82,  when  he  was  at  Fish- 
kill.— £(i.] 

795.  Washington  came  to  N.  York  before  April  13,  and  ap- 
pointed Greene  to  superintend  the  fortifications  on  L.  I.  This  gen- 
eral had  made  himself  acquainted  with  every  pass  and  defile  leading 
to  the  city,  but  unfortunately,  a  few  days  before  the  battle,  from  over 
exertion,  he  was  brought  down  with  bilious  fever.  Sullivan  took 
his  place  till  Aug.  23,  when  Putnam  took  command  within  the 
Lines.     Stirling  and  Sullivan  appear  to  have  acted  under  him. 

Aug.  3.     lie  turn  of  American  Army  at  N.  Y. 
Present  fit  for  duty,  10,514 

Present  sick,  3,039 

Absent  sick,  629 

Absent  on  command,  2,946 

Absent  on  furlough,  97 


Total.  17,225 

These   were   distributed   on  Governor's,  York,  and   Long   Island, 
Paulas  Hook,  and  Hurlgate. 


124  REVOLUTIONAKY    SPIRIT. 

A  Whig  paper  thus  sums  up  the  British  army  : 

8,000  men  who  sailed  with  Howe  from  Halifax, 

2,350  Scotch  Troops, 

2,500  defeated  Troops  of  Cornwallis  and  Clinton,  from  Sullivan's 

Island, 
9,000  Hessians  and  English  guards, 
150  Dunmore's  Negroes,  Tories,  &-c. 


22,000 
5,000  3d  division  of  Hessians  expected. 

April  28,  '76.  The  Regiments  of  Cols.  Hand,  Learned,  Reed, 
Nixon,  Stark,  Prescott,  Varnum,  Parsons,  Hitchcock,  Little,  Reed, 
Huntington,  Webb,  Arnold,  Ward,  Wyllys,  Bailey,  Wayne,  Wind, 
McDougall,  Ritzema,  Dayton,  Irvine,  and  Baldwin,  were  at  N.  Y.  con- 
sisting of  10,325  men.  Force  V,  1151,  1198. 

In  July,  Col.  Furman's  N.  J.  Levies,  Col.  Van  Cortland's,  Col. 
Bradley's,  and  Col.  Carey's  Regiments  were  stationed  at  N.  Y. 

Hinman  says  14  Regiments  of  Conn.  Militia,  (9  or  10,000)  under 
Gen.  Wolcot,  were  ordered  to  N.  Y.  But  Washington  says  only  9  Regi- 
ments (3,150)  arrived  before  Aug.  16  ;  and  3  Regiments  (1,120)  Aug. 
19  ;  in  all,  4,170  men.  If  two  more  Regiments  should  be  added,  the 
number  of  militia  would  hardly  equal  half  of  that  staled  by  Hinman. 

Aug.  26.  Washington  writes,  "  There  are  here  9  militia  regiments 
from  Conn,  of  350  men  each." 

After  the  battle  of  Aug.  27,  the  militia  disbanded  and  went  home. 
The  regular  troops  were  in  one  division  of  two  brigades  under  Maj. 
Gen   Spencer  and  Brig.  Gens.  Wadsworth  and  Parsons. 

Hinman,  p.  59. 

July  17.  W^ashington  writes,  "  The  Conn,  light  horse  are  now  dis- 
charged, though  their  assistance  is  much  needed,  having  peremptorily 
refused  all  kind  of  fatigue  duty,  or  even  to  mount  guard,  claiming  an 
exemption  as  troopers." 

[It  is  a  popular  story  on  L.  I.,  that  Washington  or  Putnam  had  their 
quarters  at  the  Cortelyou  House.  In  fact  they  were  neither  ever  outside 
the  Lines  at  Brooklyn.  Washington's  quarters  were  in  N.  Y.  He 
went  over  to  Brooklyn  after  the  Battle  had  begun,  Aug.  27. — Ed.] 

796.  Howe  determined  to  carry  the  works  on  L.  I.,  when 
the  city  itself  would  fall  an  easy  prey  into  his  hands.  Aug.  22, 
15,000  men  were  landed  at  Bath  under  cover  of  armed  vessels 
warped  in  Gravesend  Bay.     The  rifle  regiment  under  Col.  Hand 


KINGS    COUNTY.  125 

made  no  opposition,  but  withdrew  to  the  Lines,  setting  fire  to  the 
stacks  of  hay  and  grain. 

Howe  established  his  quarters  at  N.  Utrecht.  Cornwallis  was 
ordered  to  Flatbush,  where  he  had  some  skirmishing  with  the  Ameri- 
can outposts. 

"  On  Friday,  23d,  a  party  of  British  took  possession  of  Flatbush, 
which  brought  on  a  hot  fire  from  our  troops  who  are  advantageously 
posted  in  woods  and  on  every  eminence.  An  advanced  party  are  en- 
camped a  little  to  the  N.  W.  of  Flatbush  Church,  and  have  a  battery 
somewhat  west  of  Jer'h  Vanderbilt's,  whence  they  fire  briskly  on  our 
people,  who  often  approach  and  discharge  rifles  within  200  yds.  of  their 
works.  One  of  our  gunners  threw  a  shell  into  Mr.  Axtell's  house  where 
a  number  of  officers  were  at  dinner,  but  we  have  not  heard  what  damage 
it  did." 

Aug.  23.  This  afternoon  the  enemy  formed  and  attempted  to  pass 
the  wood  by  Bedford,  [Flatbush?]  and  a  smart  fire  between  them  and  the 
riflemen  ensued.  A  itamber  of  musquetry  came  up  to  the  assistance  of 
the  riflemen,  whose  fire  with  that  of  the  field  pieces  caused  a  retreat  of 
the  enemy.  Our  men  followed  to  the  house  of  Judge  Lefferts,  (where  a 
number  of  them  had  taken  lodgings),  drove  them  out,  and  burned  the 
house  and  contiguous  buildings.  We  have  driven  them  half  a  mile 
from  their  former  station.  Sullivan. 

Aug.  24.  Washington  disapproves  of  a  scattering,  unmeaning,  and 
wasteful  fire  from  our  people  at  the  enemy. 

Washington's  Instructions  to  Putnam,  Aug.  25. 

The  wood  next  Red  Hook  should  be  well  attended  to.  Put  some 
of  the  most  disorderly  riflemen  into  it.  The  militia  are  the  most 
indiflferent  troops  and  will  do  for  the  interior  works,  whilst  your  best 
men  should,  at  all  hazards,  prevent  the  enemy's  passing  the  wood  and 
approaching  the  works.  The  woods  should  be  secured  by  abatis; 
traps  and  ambuscades  should  be  laid  for  their  parties  sent  after  cattle. 

Aug.  26.  Considerable  reinforcements  are  sent  over  to  L.  I. 
There  was  a  little  skirmishing  and  irregular  firing  between  the  British 
and  American  advanced  guards,  in  which  Col.  Martin  of  the  New  Jer- 
sey Levies  received  a  wound  in  his  breast,  and  a  private  had  his  leg 
broke  by  a  cannon  ball,  and  another  received  a  musket  ball  in  his  groin. 
[Hermanus  Rutgers  was  struck  in  the  breast  by  a  6  lb.  shot  at  the  Flat- 
bush Pass  and  fell  forward  dead.  Many  curious  particulars  may  be  found 
in  Strong's  Flatbush. — Ed.] 


126  REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 


797.  A  Proclamation. 


By  his  Excellency,  the  Hon.  WM.  HOWE,  General  and    Com- 
mander-in-Chief of  all  His  Majesty's  forces  within  the  Colonies 
lying  on  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  from  Nova  Scotia  to  West  Florida, 
inclusive,  <^c.,  c^c.,  cf-c. 
Whereas,  it  is  represented  that  many  of  the  loyal  inhabitants  of 
this  Island  have  been  compelled  by  the  leaders  in  rebelUon,  to  take 
up  arms  against  His  Majesty's  Government,  Notice  is  hereby  given 
to  all  persons  so  forced  into  rebellion,  that  on  deHvering  themselves 
up  at  said  quarters  of  the  Army,  they  will  be  received  as  faithful 
subjects,  have  permits  peaceably  to  return  to  their  respective  dwel- 
lings, and  meet  with   full  protection  for  their  persons  and  property. 
All  those  who  choose  to  take  up  arms  for  the  restoration  of  order 
and  good  government  within  this  Island,  shall  be  disposed  of  in  the 
best  manner,  and  have  every  encouragement  that  can  be  expected. 

Given  under  my  hand  at  Head  Quarters  on  Long  Island,  Aug. 
23,  177C.  WM.  HOWE. 

By  his  Excellency's  command.       ROB'T  MAKENSIE,  Sec. 
798.     Examination  of  Col.  Covenhoven,  at  Harlem,  Aug.  28, 
suspected  of  giving  intelligence  to  the  enemy,  and  arrested  by  order 
of  the  Convention.  Jour.  598. 

"  Left  L.  I.  Sunday  morning,  Aug,  25 — came  last  from  Wiihelmus 
Stoothoof's  Island.  The  day  the  enemy  landed,  as  he  was  returning 
from  the  lines,  he  was  taken  by  them,  and  treated  roughly,  took  his 
sword  and  cockade  and  carried  him  to  Head-quarters,  was  politely  re- 
ceived by  Gen.  Howe,  who  asked  him  if  he  would  stay  at  home,  and 
send  his  produce,  which  he  'promised  to  do.  They  sent  for  him  a  2d 
time  same  day,  ordered  him  to  get  fowls,  &c.  Under  pretence  of  which, 
he  went  off,  got  a  horse  and  went  to  Gen.  Washington  and  asked  him 
what  part  he  should  take,  who  directed  him  to  go  back  and  collect  in- 
formation, which  he  did,  and  sent  it  to  Washington,  and  got  back  with- 
out bemg  missed.  They  never  questioned  him  further.  He  afterwards 
met  some  Hessians,  who  took  him  to  get  cows,  and  agreed  among  them- 
selves, in  Hessian  language,  to  put  him  to  death,  after  he  had  shown 
them  the  cows,  as  they  were  forbid  to  kill  cattle.  He  showed  them  a 
cow  and  left  them.  Most  of  the  stock  had  been  driven  off  before.  He 
then  went  to  Flatlands,  where  he  saw  many  Regulars  and  Gov.  Tryon. 
Gens.  Howe,  Clinton  and  Pigot,  were  on  the  Island,  and  were  joined  by 


KINGS    COUNTY.  127 

a  few  people  from  the  Island.     Left  L.  I.  on  Sunday  to  come  to   Con- 
gress, and  was  arrested  when  he  got  to  McGowen's  at  Harlem. 

[Parson  Schoonmaker  requested  two  Stillwells  to  leave  Harlem  and 
not  act  as  witnesses,  for  which  act  of  kindness  the  Colonel  gave  the 
Parson  eight  guineas. — Ed.] 

799.  Sam'l  Hubbard,  of  Gravescnd,  was  examined  by  Congress. 
He  left  home  for  Bedford,  Aug.  22,  and  could  not  return  because  the 
British  had  landed.  He  removed  Lt.  Vanderbilt's  wife  and  Ryerson's 
wife  and  daughter  to  Mr.  Benson's.  John  Sickles  says  Parson 
Schoonmaker  said  Mr.  Hubbard  was  a  hearty  friend  to  the  American 
cause. 

800.  Mr.  Abm.  Van  Ranst  of  Bush  wick  arrived  Aug.  27,  at  Har- 
lem in  a  boat  with  his  family,  and  says  he  understood  that  last  night 
1,500  men  surrounded  the  house  of  Mr.  Simon  Duryea,  a  mile  south 
of  his  house,  and  took  away  his  arms,  horses  and  wagon ;  that  2 
companies  of  militia  in  tlie  neighborhood  of  Bedford  were  disarmed 
and  perhaps  taken  prisoners."  Journal,  594. 

801.  Explanation  of  the  operations  of  the  two  Armies,  Aug.  22-29. 
See  Map. 

VI.  Denyse's  large  stone  house,  now  Fort  Hamilton,  (where  'tis  said 
were  a  cannon  and  body  of  men  posted,)  abreast  of  which  lay  the  Rain- 
bow, so  as  to  enfilade  the  road  from  N.  Y. 

n.  N.  Utrecht  beach,  where  the  British  landed,  Aug.  22  and  24,  on 
the  farms  of  Isaac  Cortelyou  and  Adrian  Van  Brunt,  which  lay  W.  of 
the  Bath  House,  i.  e.  between  the  Cortelyou  road  and  the  Bath  road, 
anciently  called  De  Bruyn  road. 

0.  Schoomaker's  Bridge,  (still  extant,)  a  very  narrow  passage  where 
the  army  under  Clinton  might  easily  have  been  stopped. 

J).  A  passage  over  the  hill  by  which  J.  Howard  led  the  British  army 
or  a  detachment  of  it,  about  2  o'clock  A.  M.,  Aug.  27. 

q.  The  Jamaica  Pass.     The  road  in  1776  went  around  a  large  hill. 

r.  The  Hunder-fly  Road. 

s.  Baker's  Tavern. 

/.  Bennett's  Cove,  where  'lis  said,  3,000  British  landed  on  the  morn- 
ing of  Aug.  27. 

u.  Martense's  Lane,  by  which  Stirling  says  the  forces  came,  who 
were  opposed  to  him. 

V.  Red  Lion  Tavern,  as  is  supposed,  mentioned  by  Stirling. 

w.  Stirling's  force  [on  Wykoff's  Hill  1]  morning  of  Aug.  27. 


128  REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 

X.  Grant's  force,  morning  of  Aug.  27. 

y.  The  scene  of  Stirling's  last  encounter  with  the  enemy,  while  his 
main  body  escaped  over  the  Creek  and  Mill-dam. 

N.  B.  The  precise  spots  w,  x,  y,  cannot  now  perhaps  be  identified. 
The  hills  remain,  but  all  else  is  changed. 

z.  Cortelyou  House,  built  of  brick  and  stone,  1699,  by  N.  Vechte,and 
still  standing.  Probably  the  scene  of  some  fighting.  One  writer  says 
"  Cornwallis  was  posted  in  a  house  above  where  the  crossing  was  to  be 
made  ;"  and  another  says  "  the  British  had  several  field-pieces  stationed 
by  a  brick  house,  and  were  pouring  cannister  and  grape  on  the  Ameri- 
cans crossing  the  creek." 

1.  British  redoubt  thrown  up  on  the  night  of  Aug,  28,  on  high  land 
of  George  Debevoise. 

2.  Buttermilk  Channel. 

3.  Stone  (Dutch)  church  in  the  road,  where  'tis  said,  Washington 
held  his  military  council.  It  was  the  alarm  post  on  the  night  of  the 
retreat. 

4.  Brower's  Mill.  The  side  toward  the  Fort  (Z)  was  ripped  off  so 
as  to  expose  it  to  the  fire  of  the  Fort,  in  case  the  enemy  should  occupy 
it.  In  the  confusion  of  the  retreat,  'tis  said.  Col.  Ward  set  fire  to  this 
mill  before  the  retreating  Americans  got  over.  Hence  they  were 
drowned  in  the  mill-pond.  There  was  then  no  road  over  the  dam,  only 
a  foot  path.     The  mill  is  still  standing,  the  pond  mostly  filled  up. 

5.  Flatbush  Pass.  A  large  old  oak  was  felled  as  an  abatis  across 
the  road,  to  cover  the  small  redoubt  of  3  six  pounders. 

6.  Americans  retreating  across  the  mouth  of  the  creek. 

7.  A  party  of  Americans  who  covered  the  retreat  of  those  who 
swam  over  the  creek. 

8.  Port  or  Mill  Road,  by  which  De   Hcister  may  have   descended. 

9.  Brooklyn  Ferry. 

10.  Wallebocht. 

11.  East  River. 

12.  Paulus  Hook. 

13.  North  River. 

14.  Gowanus  Bay. 

15.  Yellow  Hook. 

16.  The  Narrows. 

17.  Road  to  the  Narrows. 

18.  Road  to  New  Lots. 

19.  Howard's  Halfway  House. 


KINGS    COUNTY.  1*29 

N.  B.  The  clotted  lines  indicate  the  supposed  routes  of  the  three 
divisions  of  the  British  army  on  the  morning  of  Aug.  27. 

802.  Aug.  26.  Gen.  De  Heister  landed  with  the  Hessians  and 
proceeded  to  Flatbush,  when  Cornwallis  moved  off  to  Flatlands. 
Learning  from  the  disaffected  inhabitants  that  the  Jamaica  pass  was 
unoccupied,  Howe  arranged  his  plan  of  attack. 

1.  Gen.  Grant  was  to  advance  by  the  shore  road  [or  Martense's 
lane.]  towards  Brooklyn,  and  make  a  feint  in  that  direction.  The 
ships  were  to  bombard  the  Fort  at  Red  Hook. 

2.  De  Heister  was  to  take  up  the  attention  of  the  Americans  at 
Flatbush  pass,  till  he  should  hear  the  British  fire  in  their  rear,  when 
he  was  to  push  on  in  earnest. 

3.  The  main  body  of  the  army  was  to  draw  off  under  cover  of 
night  towards  Flatlands,  and  take  a  circuitous  route  tliroiigh  New 
Lots,  and  so  surprise  the  Jamaica  pass,  and  get  in  the  rear  of  the 
American  forces. 

Accordingly  at  9  A.  M.,  Aug.  26  (some  respectable  farmers  act- 
ing as  guides),  the  van  of  the  army  under  Clinton,  the  main  body 
under  Percy,  and  the  reserve  under  Cornwallis,  moved  off  by  the 
road  leading  to  Flatlands  Neck,  and  came  out  at  Schoonmaker's 
Bridge.  There  (E.  of  D.  Rapalje's)  they  left  the  road,  threw  open 
the  fence  and  crossed  the  fields  towards  Howard's,  where  they  ar- 
rived 2  hours  before  day. 

The  American  patroles  were  all  seized  and  no  alarm  given.  The 
Jamaica  pass  was  secured.  At  daylight,  the  whole  British  army 
had  passed  through  the  woods  and  then  halted  to  take  refreshments. 

While  they  are  breakfasting,  let  us  visit  Grant  near  the  shore. 
As  he  was  advancing,  his  advance  guard,  about  midnight,  fell  in  with 
the  American  outposts,  who  were  driven  back  on  the  main  body 
under  Stirling,  who  was  now  posted  on  a  side  hill  [Wykoff's?] 
that  commanded  the  road,  where  an  indecisive  cannonade  was  kept 
up  for  several  hours. 

Let  us  now  go  to  the  Flatbush  pass.  According  to  the  precon- 
certed plan,  De  Heister  commenced  a  moderate  cannonade  on  the 
American  redoubt  at  daybreak. 

JNIeantime,  the  main  body  having  now  finished  their  morning  re- 
past, hastened  on  to  Bedford,  intercepting  on  the  way  small  i)artics 
of  Americans  who  were  retreating  from  the  woody  heights  on  dis- 


130  REVOLUTIONARY    SPIRIT. 

covering  the  enemy  in  their  rear.  The  moment  De  Heister  lieard 
the  firing,  he  ordered  Col.  Donop  to  storm  the  redoubt,  and  fol- 
lowed on  himself. 

The  Americans  now  essayed  to  retreat  towards  Brooklyn,  but 
were  forced  back  by  Clinton,  upon  the  Hessian  bayonets,  and  in  this 
way  they  v/ere  driven  to  and  fro,  till  a  few  boldly  cut  their  way 
through  the  enemy  and  escaped  within  the  lines. 

It  was  now  9  A.  M.,  when  Cornwallis  fired  2  signal  guns  for 
Grant,  and  pushed  on  to  cut  off  Stirling's  rear.  Stirling,  seeing  the 
day  was  lost,  ordered  the  main  body  of  his  division  to  make  their 
way  into  the  lines  as  best  they  could  across  the  meadows  and  creek 
at  Gowanus,  while  he  with  a  forlorn  hope  kept  Cornwallis  in  check, 
till  overpowering  numbers  in  front  and  rear  forced  him  to  surrender. 

It  is  supposed  about  5,000  Americans  were  engaged  in  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  battle-field,  and  twice  that  number  of  British,  but  it 
is  all  conjecture. 

Hardly  had  the  discomfited  Americans  escaped  within  the  lines, 
when  the  King's  forces  pushed  in  hot  pursuit  nearly  up  to  the 
trenches,  regardless  of  shot  from  cannon  and  musketry.  Howe, 
however,  did  not  care  to  risk  an  assault.  On  the  evening  of  the  next 
day,  the  British  had  a  redoubt  thrown  up  E.  of  Fort  Putnam,  and 
were  preparing  to  cannonade  the    American  works. 

The  Americans  were  ordered  not  to  quit  the  lines,  but  now 
and  then  a  lawless  rifleman  would  spring  over  the  works  and  pick 
off  a  British  scout.     A  constant  skirmishing  was  kept  up. 

But  the  rain  was  so  excessive — a  fine  penetrating  drizzle — and 
no  tents,  the  lines  so  extensive,  and  the  men  so  few,  that  the  troops 
were  quite  exhausted  and  dispirited.  Aug.  29,  a  council  of  war  was 
held,  and  it  was  decided  to  retreat.  As  it  was  all-important  to  keep 
this  secret  from  the  British,  Washington  gave  out  that  he  was  going 
to  attack  the  enemy  in  the  rear,  and  wanted  a  great  number  of  boats 
to  transport  a  detachment  up  th?  East  River  and  land  on  L.  I.,  at 
Ilellgate.  Accordingly  in  the  evening  there  was  marching  and 
counter-marching,  2  Reg's  would  march  down  to  the  Ferry  and 
one  up,  2  down  and  one  up,  till  but  one  Reg.  was  left  to  embark. 

The  retreat  was  to  commence  with  the  militia  at  8  o'clock,  but  the 
wind  was  N.  E.,  and  with  difficulty  a  few  passed  over.  A.  11,  the 
wind  chopped  round  S.  W.,  and  then   the  boats  crossed   rapidly. 


KINGS    COUNTY.  131 

This  was  the  critical  moment  for  the  British  fleet  (which  had  been 
kept  down  the  Narrows  3  days  by  adverse  wind)  to  sail  up,  fire  on 
and  sink  the  American  boats,  but  their  drowsy  sentinels  did  not  ob- 
serve the  change.  A  fog  also  hung  over  the  Brooklyn  shore  till  a  late 
hour  next  morning,  and  thus  the  entire  American  army  of  9,000 
men,  with  their  prisoners,  most  of  the  wounded,  baggage  and  mili- 
tary stores  were  saved. 

Meanwhile  the  British  reconnoitering  parties  drew  nearer  and 
nearer.  As  they  were  not  annoyed  by  any  firing,  and  stillness 
reigned  along  the  lines,  they  suspected  all  was  not  right.  By  and 
by  one  more  daring  than  the  rest  cautiously  crept  into  the  works, 
and  seeing  a  perfect  solitude,  gave  the  alarm.  The  King's  forces 
rushed  in  and  hastened  to  the  Ferry,  regardless  of  the  fire  from  the 
American  battery  at  the  ship  yards,  and  the  vessels  in  the  stream. 
But  they  were  too  late !  They  fired  indeed  on  a  few  straggling 
boats,  and  'tis  said,  compelled  one  to  return. 

Intense  must  have  been  the  anxiety  of  Washington.  He  says, 
he  had  no  sleep,  and  indeed  was  scarce  out  of  his  saddle  for  two 
entire  days. 

It  is  said,  that  Mrs.  John  Rapelye,  who  lived  at  the  Ferry,  sus- 
pected what  was  going  on,  and  sent  her  slave  to  inform  the  British 
general  of  the  preparations  for  a  retreat,  by  the  American  army.  The 
negro  was  apprehended  by  a  Hessian  guard,  and  not  being  able  to  make 
himself  understood,  was  detained  under  guard  till  morning,  when  he 
was  escorted  to  Head  Quarters,  and  delivered  his  message  just  in  time 
to  be  too  late. 


PART  II. 

LETTERS  RELATING  TO  THE  BATTLE  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 

Lord  Howe's  LcLler  describing  the  Landing. 
803.  "  Gen.  Howe  giving  me  notice  of  his  intention  to  make  a 
descent  in  Gravesend  Bay,  on  L.  I.,  on  the  morning  of  the  22d,  the 
necessary  disposition  was  made,  and  75  flat-boats,  with  1 1  batteaux 
and  2  galleys,  built  for  the  occasion,  were  prepared  for  that  service. 
The  command  of  the  whole  remained  with  Com.  Hotham.  The 
Capts.  Parker,  Wallace,  and  Dickson,  in  the  Phenix,  Rose,  and 
Greyhound,  with  the  Thunder  and  Carcass  bombs,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Col.  James,  were  appointed  to  cover  the  landing.  The  flat 
boats,  galleys,  and  3  batteaux,  manned  from  the  ships  of  war,  were 
formed  into  divisions  commanded  respectively  by  the  Capts.  Vande- 
put.  Mason,  Curtis,  Caldwell,  Phipps,  Caulfield,  Uppleby,  and  Dun- 
can, and  Lt.  Reeve  of  the  Eagle.  The  rest  of  the  batteaux,  making 
a  10th  division,  manned  from  the  transports,  were  under  the  conduct 
of  Lt.  Bristow,  an  assistant  agent.  Early  in  the  morning  of  the  22d, 
the  covering  ships  took  their  station  in  Gravesend  Bay.  The  light 
infantry,  with  the  reserve  to  be  first  landed,  forming  a  corps  together 
of  4000  men,  entered  the  boats  at  Staten  Island  the  same  time.  The 
transports  in  which  the  several  brigades  composing  the  2d  debarka- 
tion (about  5000  men)  had  been  before  embarked,  were  moved  down 
and  suitably  arranged  without  the  covering  ships  by  8  o'clock.  The 
first  debarkation  not  meeting  with  any  opposition,  the  second  suc- 
ceeded immediately  after  ;  and  the  other  transports,  carrying  the 
rest  of  the  troops,  following  the  former  in  proper  succession.  The 
whole  force  then  destined  for  this  service,  consisting  of  about  15,000 
men,  was  landed  before  noon.  On  the  25th  an  additional  corps 
of  Hessian  troops  under  Gen.  Heister,  with  their  field  artillery  and 


BATTLE    OF    LONG    ISLAND.  133 

Ijaggage,  were  conveyed  to  Graveseiid  Bay.  Being  informed  next 
day  by  Gen.  Howe  of  his  intentions  to  advance  with  the  army  that 
night  to  the  enemy's  lines,  and  of  his  wishes  that  some  diversion 
might  be  attempted  by  the  ships  on  this  side,  I  gave  directions  to  Sir 
Peter  Parker  for  proceeding  higher  np  in  the  channel  toward  the 
town  of  New- York  next  morning,  with  the  Asia,  Renown,  Preston, 
(Com.  Hotham  embarked  in  the  Phenix,  having  been  left  to  carry 
on  the  service  in  Gravesend  Bay.)  Roebuck,  and  Repulse,  and  to 
keep  those  ships  in  readiness  for  being  employed  as  occasion  might 
require ;  but  the  wind  veering  to  the  northward  soon  after  the  break 
of  day,  the  ships  could  not  be  moved  up  to  the  distance  proposed : 
therefore  when  the  troops  under  Gen.  Grant,  forming  the  left  col- 
umn of  the  army,  were  seen  to  be  engaged  WMth  the  enemy  in  the 
morning,  the  Roebuck,  Capt.  Hammond,  leading  the  detached  squad- 
ron, was  the  only  ship  that  could  fetch  high  enough  to  the  northward 
to  exchange  a  few  random  shot  with  the  battery  on  Red  Hook  ;  and 
the  ebb  making  strongly  down  the  river  soon  after,  I  ordered  the 
signal  to  be  shown  for  the  squadron  to  anchor." 

"The  Admiral  directed  Sir  Geo.  Collier  to  place  the  Rainbow  at 
dawn  of  day  in  the  Narrows  abreast  of  a  large  stone  building  called 
Denyse's,  [now  Ft.  Hamilton,]  where  he  understood  the  rebels  had  can- 
non and  a  strong  post,  in  which  situation  she  would  also  be  able  to  en- 
filade the  road  leading  from  N.  Y.,  and  prevent  reinforcements  being 
sent  to  the  rebel  outposts  as  well  as  to  their  troops  who  were  stationed 
to  oppose  the  landing."  Journal  of  a  British  Officer. 

Joseph  Reed  to  Mrs.  Reed. 
804.  Head  Quarters,  Aug.  24.  Our  troops  have  been  skirmish- 
ing with  the  enemy  on  L.  I.  with  various  fortune,  but  we  have  ge- 
nerally driven  them  back ;  several  were  killed  on  both  sides.  Most 
of  the  Penn.  troops  are  ordered  over.  The  officers  and  men  behave 
exceedingly  well,  and  the  whole  army  is  in  better  spirits  than  I  have 
known  it  at  any  time.  The  gallantry  of  the  southern  men  has  in- 
spired all  others,  so  that  there  will  be  an  emulation  v*'ho  shall  be- 
have best.  There  is  a  wood  between  our  works  and  the  enemy's 
camp,  of  which  each  party  is  endeavoring  to  possess  themselves. 
As  yet  we  have  kept  it,  and  hope  we  shall,  as  it  is  very  important. 
The  enemy's  ships  are  moving  so  much  downwards,  that  we  begin  to 
think  their  grand  attack  will  bo  on  I^ong  Island.  Indeed,  the  city 
7 


134  LETTERS    RELATING    TO    THE 

is  now  SO  strong,  that  in  the  present  temper  of  our  men,  the  enemy 
would  lose  half  their  army  in  attempting  to  take  it.  While  I  am 
writing  there  is  a  heavy  firing  and  clouds  of  smoke  rising  from  that 
wood.  Gen.  Putnam  was  made  happy  by  obtaining  leave  to  go 
over.     The  old  man  was  quite  miserable  at  being  kept  here. 

805.  British  Official  Account  of  the  Battle. 

Camp  at  Newtown,  L.  I.,  Sept.  3,  1776. 

My  Lord  : — On  the  22d  of  last  month,  in  the  morning,  the  Brit- 
ish, with  Col.  Donop's  corps  of  chasseurs  and  Hessian  grenadiers, 
disembarked  near  Utrecht,  on  L.  I.,  without  opposition,  the  whole 
being  landed,  with  40  pieces  of  cannon,  in  two  hours  and  a  half, 
under  the  direction  of  Com.  Hotham  ;  Lieut.  Gen.  CHnton  command- 
ing the  first  division  of  the  troops.  The  enemy  had  only  small  par- 
ties on  the  coast,  who  upon  the  approach  of  the  boats,  retired  to  the 
woody  heights,  comm.anding  a  principal  pass  on  the  road  from  Flat- 
bush  to  their  works  at  Brooklyn.  Lord  Cornwallis  was  immediately 
detached  to  Flatbush  with  the  reserve,  two  battalions  of  light  in- 
fantry, and  Col.  Donop's  corps,  with  six  field-pieces,  having  orders 
not  to  risk  an  attack  upon  the  pass,  if  he  should  find  it  occupied  ; 
which  proving  to  be  the  case,  his  lordship  took  post  in  the  village, 
and  the  army  extended  from  the  ferry  at  the  Narrows,  through 
Utrecht  and  Gravesend,  to  the  village  of  Flatland.  On  the  25th,  Lt. 
Gen.  De  Heister,  with  two  brigades  of  Hessians  from  Staten  Island, 
joined  the  army,  leaving  one  brigade  of  his  troops,  a  detachment  of 
the  14th  regiment  from  Virginia,  some  convalescents  and  recruits, 
under  the  command  of  Lieut.  Col.  Dalrymple,  for  the  security  of 
that  island.  On  the  26th,  Lt.  Gen.  De  Heister  took  post  at  Flat- 
bush  ;  and  in  the  evening  Lord  Cornwallis  with  the  British  drew  oflT 
to  Flatland.  About  9  o'clock  the  sam.e  night  the  van  of  the  army, 
commanded  by  lit.  Gen.  Clinton,  (consisting  of  the  light  dragoons 
and  brigade  of  light  infantry,  the  reserve  under  the  command  of  Lord 
Cornwallis,  excepting  the  42d  regiment,  which  was  posted  to  the  left 
of  the  Hessians,  the  first  brigade,  and  the  71st  regiment,)  with  14 
field-pieces,  began  to  move  from  Flatland  across  the  country  through 
the  New  Lots,  to  seize  a  pass  in  the  heights  extending  from  east  to 
west  along  the  middle  of  the  island,  and  about  three  miles  from  Bed- 
ford on  the  road  to  Jamaica,  in  order  to  turn  the  enemy's  left,  posted 
at  Flatbush.     Aug.  27th.  Gen.  Clinton  being  arrived  within  half  a 


BATTLE    OF    LONG    ISLAND.  135 

mile  of  the  pass  about  two  hours  before  daybreak,  halted  and  settled 
his  disposition  for  the  attack.  One  of  his  patrols,  falling  in  with  a 
patrol  of  the  enemy's  officers,  took  them  ;  and  the  general,  learning 
from  their  information  that  the  rebels  had  not  fortified  the  pass,  de- 
tached a  battalion  of  light  infantry  to  secure  it,  and  advancing  with 
his  corps  upon  the  first  appearance  of  day,  possessed  himself  of  the 
heights,  with  such  a  disposition  as  must  have  secured  success,  had 
he  found  the  enemy  in  force  to  oppose  him.  The  main  body  of  the 
army,  consisting  of  the  guards,  2d,  3d,  and  5th  brigades,  with  10  field- 
pieces,  led  by  Lord  Percy,  marched  soon  after  Gen.  Clinton,  and 
halted  an  hour  before  day  in  his  rear.  This  column  (the  country 
not  admitting  of  two  columns  of  march)  was  followed  by  the  49th 
regiment,  with  four  medium  12  pounders  ;  and  the  baggage  closed 
the  rear,  with  separate  guard.  As  soon  as  these  corps  had  passed 
the  heights,  they  halted  for  the  soldiers  to  take  a  little  refreshment, 
after  which  the  march  was  continued  ;  and  about  half  an  hour  past 
8  o'clock,  having  got  to  Bedford,  in  the  rear  of  the  enemy's  left,  the 
attack  was  commenced  by  the  light  infantry  and  light  dragoons  upon 
large  bodies  of  the  rebels,  having  cannon,  who  were  quitting  the 
woody  heights  before  mentioned  to  return  to  their  lines  upon  discov- 
ering the  march  of  the  army,  instead  of  which  they  were  drove  back, 
and  the  army  still  moving  on  to  gain  the  enemy's  rear,  the  grena- 
diers and  33d  regiment,  being  in  front  of  the  column,  soon  approached 
within  musket  shot  of  the  enemy's  lines  at  Brooklyn,  from  whence 
these  battalions,  without  regarding  the  fire  of  cannon  and  small-arms 
upon  tliem,  pursued  numbers  of  the  rebels  that  were  retiring  from 
the  heights,  so  close  to  their  principal  redoubt,  and  with  such  eager- 
ness to  attack  it  by  storm,  that  it  required  repeated  orders  to  prevail 
upon  them  to  desist  from  the  attempt :  had  they  been  permitted  to  go 
on,  it  is  my  opinion  they  would  have  carried  the  redoubt ;  but  as  it 
was  apparent  that  the  lines  must  have  been  ours  at  a  very  cheap  rate 
by  regular  approaches,!  would  not  risk  the  loss  that  might  have  been 
sustained  in  the  assault,  and  ordered  them  back  to  a  hollow  way  in 
the  front  of  the  works,  out  of  the  reach  of  musketry.  Lt.  Gen. 
De  Ilcister  began  soon  after  daybreak  to  cannonade  the  enemy  in  the 
front,  and  upon  the  approach  of  our  right,  ordered  Col.  Donop's  corps 
to  advance  to  the  attack  of  the  hill,  following  himself  at  the  kead  of 
the  brigades.     The  light  infantry  about  that  time,  having  been  rein- 


136  LETTERS    RELATING    TO    THE 

forced  by  the  light  company,  the  grenadier  company,  and  two  other 
companies  of  the  guards,  who  joined  the.n  with  the  greatest  activity 
and  spirit,  had  taken  three  pieces  of  cannon,  and  were  warmly  en- 
gaged with  very  superior  numbers  in  the  woods,  w^hen,  on  the  Hes- 
sians advancing,  the  enemy  gave  way,  and  was  entirely  routed  in 
that  quarter.  On  the  left,  Maj.  Gen.  Grant,  having  the  4th  and  6th 
brigades,  the  42d  regiment,  and  two  companies  of  New-York  Provin- 
cials, raised  by  Gov.  Tryon  in  the  spring,  advanced  along  the  coast 
with  10  pieces  of  cannon,  to  divert  the  enemy's  attention  from  their 
left.  About  midnight  he  fell  in  with  their  advanced  parties,  and  at 
daybreak  with  a  large  corps  having  cannon,  and  advantageously 
posted,  with  whom  there  was  skirmishing  and  a  cannonade  for  some 
hours,  until,  by  the  firing  at  Brooklyn,  the  rebels  suspecting  their 
retreat  would  be  cut  off,  made  a  movement  to  the  right  in  order  to 
secure  it  across  a  swamp  and  creek  that  covered  the  right  of  their 
works ;  but  being  met  in  their  way  by  a  part  of  the  2d  grenadiers, 
who  were  soon  after  supported  by  the  71st  regiment,  and  Gen. 
Grant's  left  coming  up,  they  suffered  considerably :  numbers  of  tliem, 
however,  did  get  into  the  morass,  where  many  were  suffocated  or 
drowned.  The  force  of  the  enemy  detached  from  the  lines  where 
Gen.  Putnam  commanded  was  not  less,  from  the  best  accounts  I 
have  had,  than  14,000  men,  who  were  under  the  orders  of  Maj.  Gen. 
SulHvan,  Brig.  Gens.  Lord  Stirling  and  Woodhull.  Their  loss  is 
computed  to  be  about  3,300  killed,  wounded,  prisoners,  and  drowned, 
with  five  field-pieces  and  one  howitzer  taken.  A  return  of  the 
prisoners  is  inclosed.  On  the  part  of  the  King's  troops,  5  officers 
and  56  non-commissioned  officers,  and  rank  and  file  killed;  12  offi- 
cers, and  245  non-commissioned  officers  and  rank  and  file  wounded  : 
one  officer  and  20  grenadiers  of  the  marines  taken,  by  mistaking  the 
enemy  for  the  Hessians.  The  Hessians  had  two  privates  killed, 
three  officers  and  23  rank  and  file  wounded.  The  wounds  are  in 
general  very  slight.  Lt.  Col.  INIonckton  is  shot  through  the  body, 
but  there  are  the  greatest  hopes  of  his  recovery.  The  behavior  of 
both  officers  and  soldiers,  British  and  Hessians,  was  highly  to  their 
honor.  More  determined  courage  and  steadiness  in  troops  have  never 
beep  experienced,  or  a  greater  ardor  to  distinguish  themselves,  as  all 
those  who  had  an  opportunity  have  amply  evinced  by  their  actions. 
In  the  evening  of  the  27th,  the  army  encamped  in  front  of  the  one- 


BATTLE    OF    LONG    ISLAND.  137 

my's  works.  On  the  28th,  at  night,  broke  ground  600  yards  distant 
from  a  redoubt  on  their  left ;  and  on  the  29th,  at  night,  the  rebels 
evacuated  their  intrenchments  and  Red  Hook  with  the  utmost  silence, 
and  quitted  Governor's  Island  the  following  evening,  leaving  their 
cannon  and  a  quantity  of  stores  in  all  their  works.  At  daybreak  on 
the  30th  their  flight  was  discovered,  the  pickets  of  the  line  took 
possession,  and  those  most  advanced  reached  the  shore  opposite  to 
New- York  as  their  rear  guard  was  going  over,  and  fired  some  shot 
among  them.  The  enemy  is  still  in  possession  of  the  town  and 
island  of  New-York,  in  force,  and  making  demonstration  of  opposing 
us  in  their  works  on  both  sides  of  Kingsbridge.  The  inhabitants  of 
this  island,  many  of  whom  had  been  forced  into  rebellion,  have  all 
submitted,  and  are  ready  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance.  This  dis- 
patch will  be  delivered  to  your  lordship  by  Major  Cuyler,  my  first 
aid-de-camp,  who  I  trust  will  be  able  to  give  your  lordship  such  fur- 
ther information  as  may  be  required. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c., 

WILL.  HOWE. 
To  Lord  Geo.  Germaine. 

P.  S.  I  have  omitted  to  take  notice,  in  its  proper  place,  of  a 
movement  made  by  the  King's  ships  towards  the  town,  on  the  27th 
at  daybreak,  with  a  view  of  drawing  off  the  attention  of  the  enemy 
from  our  real  design,  which,  I  believe,  effectually  answered  the  intended 
purpose. 

About  Aug.  22,  we  embarked  in  boats  for  L.  I.,  and  landed  without 
opposition  in  Gravesend  Bay,  marched  6  miles  inland  and  halted  till 
26th,  a  large  body  of  the  Americans  near  us  keeping  up  a  firing  from 
behind  walls  and  trees.  About  4  p.  m.,  Aug.  26,  struck  tents  and  lay  on 
our  arms  during  the  night  about  3  miles  from  Bedford  ;  and  though  it 
was  summer,  it  was  the  coldest  night  I  have  experienced  up  to  Nov. 
25.  At  daybreak,  Aug.  27,  the  light  infantry  attacked  and  forced  sev- 
eral small  posts  which  the  Americans  had  on  the  road  leading  to  their 
lines  at  Bedford.  This  appeared  to  be  the  first  notice  they  had  of  our 
being  near  them.  About  9  we  fired  two  signal  guns  to  a  part  of  the 
army  under  Gen.  Grant,  who  was  to  make  a  feint  in  the  front  of  the 
Americans,  while  we  got  round  to  their  rear,  and  immediately  marched 
briskly  up  to  them,  when,  almost  without  firing  a  shot,  they  abandoned 
their  post  and  retreated  to  their  lines  under  cover  of  their  guns.  Our 
men  were  most  eager  to  attack  them  in  their  lines,  but  were  ordered  to 


138  LETTERS    RELATING    TO    THE 

retreat  out  of  reach  of  their  guns,  and  lay  from  about  4  p  m.  till  very 
near  dark  at  the  entrance  of  a  small  wood  exposed  to  the  fire  of  their 
riflemen.  During  the  whole  evening  they  hit  but  one  man,  though  their 
balla  continually  whistled  over  our  heads  and  lodged  in  the  trees  above 
us.  Their  loss  is  acknowledged  by  them  to  have  been  2600  ;  ours  300 
killed  and  wounded.  Lord  Harris. 

From  an  Officer  in  Gen.  Frazer's  Bat.,  71st  Regt. 

"  The  Hessians  and  our  brave  Highlanders  gave  no  quarters  ;  and  it 
was  a  fine  sight  to  see  with  what  alacrity  they  dispatched  the  rebels 
with  their  bayonets,  after  we  had  surrounded  them  so  they  could  not  re- 
sist. We  took  care  to  tell  the  Hessians  that  the  rebels  had  resolved 
to  give  no  quarter — to  them  in  particular, — which  made  them  fight  des- 
perately, and  put  to  death  all  that  came  into  their  hands." 
From  a  British  Officer  of  rank. 

*'  The  Americans  fought  bravely,  and  (to  do  them  justice)  could  not 
be  broken  till  they  were  greatly  outnumbered  and  taken  in  flank,  front, 
and  rear.  We  were  greatly  shocked  at  the  massacre  made  by  the  Hes- 
sians and  Highlanders  after  victory  was  decided." 

Lord  Percy  writes  from  camp  at  Newtown,  Sep.  4,  "  It  was  the 
General's  orders  that  the  troops  should  receive  the  rebels'  first  fire,  and 
then  rush  on  them,  before  they  had  recovered  their  arms,  with  our  bay- 
onets, which  threw  them  into  the  utmost  confusion." 

"  General  Robertson  says :  "  The  battalion  of  grenadiers  led  by 
Col.  Stuart,  and  33d  reg.,  ran  across  a  field  beyond  the  Flatbush  road  to- 
wards the  principal  redoubt.  Gen.  Vaughan  asked  if  he  should  attack  the 
lines,  (which  were  semicircular  and  the  parapets  lined  with  spears  and 
lances,)  but  he  was  ordered  back."  The  London  Chronicle  says  :  "  Col . 
Monckton  and  Gen.  Vaughan  led  the  grenadiers  and  light  infantry. 
They  saw  the  advantage,  and  told  Howe  the  rebels  were  shut  up  be-  % 
tween  the  British  and  the  sea,  Vaughan  stormed  with  rage  at  being 
stopped,  and  sent  word  to  Howe  that  he  could  force  the  lines  with  incon- 
siderable loss."  The  American  cannon  were  not  well  pointed  ;  a  great 
number  of  shot  came  over  the  British,  but  some  were  killed  and  some 
wounded  by  small  arms  from  the  lines.  [One  of  the  L.  I.  militia  says 
he  heard  the  bullets  whistle  over  his  head  as  he  stood  in  the  ditch. 
Putnam  rode  along  the  lines  and  ordered  them  not  to  fire  till  they  could 
see  the  whites  of  the  enemies'  eyes.  A  British  oflicer  was  brought 
wounded  into  Boerum's  bolt-house,  which  was  used  as  a  hospital,  where 
were  several  rows  of  beds  occupied  by  the  wounded. 

Wm.  Howard,  aged  87,  says  the  British  army  was  guided  by  N.  W 


BATTLE    OF    LONG    ISLAND.  139 

along  a  narrow  road  across  Schoonmaker's  bridge,  (where  a  small  force 
might  easily  have  brought  the  whole  British  army  to  a  stand  )  Thence 
they  turned  off  east  of  Dan'l  Rapalje's  and  crossed  the  fields  to  the  south 
of  Howard's  half-way  house,  where  they  halted  in  front  of  his  house. 
About  2  o'clock  in  the  morning,  after  the  market  wagons  had  passed, 
Howe,  [?]  with  a  citizen's  hat  on  and  a  camblet  cloak  over  his  uniform 
dress,  entered  Wm.  Howard's  tavern,  attended  by  Clinton  and  two  aids, 
and  asked  for  something  to  drink,  conversed  with  him,  and  asked  if  he 
had  joined  the  association  ?  Howard  said  he  had.  *'  That's  all  very 
well.  Stick  to  your  integrity.  But  now  you  are  my  prisoner,  and  must 
lead  me  across  these  hills  out  of  the  way  of  the  enemy,  the  nearest  way  to 
Gowanus."  Howard  accordingly  conducted  the  army  by  a  passage  way 
between  his  house  and  horse  shed  over  the  hills  and  woods  east  of  his 
house,  till  they  came  to  the  cleared  land  north  of  the  woods.  The  horses 
drew  the  artillery  up  the  hill  in  a  slanting  direction,  and  halted  on  the 
brow  to  breathe  a  little.  The  army  then  proceeded  west  and  came  out 
at  Baker's  tavern  by  the  Gowanus  road.  The  British  took  Adj.  Jeromus 
Hoogland  [Lt.  Troup]  and  Lt.  Dunscomb,  American  patroles,  at  the 
big  white  oak  (since  struck  by  lightning)  in  the  middle  of  the  road  by 
the  mile  post,  a  little  east  of  Howard's.  Isaac  Boerum,  a  trooper,  of 
New  Lots,  was  also  taken  in  Bushwick,  and  died  of  small-pox  in  prison. 
—Ed.] 

806.     jR.  H.  Harrison  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

New-York,  8  o'clock  P.  M.,  Aug.  27,  1776. 
Sir — I  have  this  minute  returned  from  ouv  lines  on  Long  Island, 
where  I  left  his  Excellency,  the  General.  From  him,  I  have  it  in 
command  to  inform  Congress,  that  yesterday  he  went  there,  and  con- 
tinued till  evening,  when,  from  the  enemy  having  landed  a  consid- 
erable part  of  their  forces,  and  from  many  of  their  movements,  there 
was  reason  to  apprehend  they  would  in  a  little  time  make  a  general 
attack.  As  they  would  have  a  wood  to  pass  through  before  they 
could  approach  the  lines,  it  was  thought  expedient  to  place  a  number 
of  men  on  the  roads  leading  from  where  they  were  stationed,  in  order 
to  harass  and  annoy  them  in  their  march.  This  being  done,  early 
this  morning  a  smart  engagement  ensued  between  the  enemy  and 
our  detachments — which  being  unequal  to  the  force  they  had  to  con- 
tend with,  have  sustained  considerable  loss.  At  least,  many  of  our 
men  are  missing.  Among  those  that  have  not  returned,  are  Gen. 
Sullivan  and  Lord  Stirling.  The  enemy's  loss  is  not  known  cer- 
tainly ;  but  we  are  told  by  such  of  oiir  troops  as  were  in  the  engage- 


140  LETTERS    RELATING    TO    THE 

ment,  and  have  come  in,  that  they  had  many  killed  ]and  wounded. 
Our  party  brought  off  a  lieutenant,  sergeant  and  corporal,  with  20 
privates,  prisoners.  While  these  detachments  were  engaged,  a 
column  of  the  enemy  descended  from  the  woods,  and  marched  toward 
the  centre  of  our  hnes,  with  a  design  to  make  an  impression,  but 
were  repulsed.  This  evening  they  appeared  very  numerous  about 
the  skirts  of  the  woods  where  they  have  pitched  several  tents ;  and 
his  Excellency  inclines  to  think  they  mean  to  attack  and  force  us 
from  our  lines  by  way  of  regular  approaches,  rather  than  in  any 
other  manner.  To-day  five  ships  of  the  line  came  up  toward  the 
town,  where  they  seemed  desirous  of  getting,  as  they  tacked  a  long 
time  against  an  unfavorable  wind  ;  and  on  my  return  this  evening,  I 
found  a  deserter  from  the  23d  Regt.,  who  informed  me  that  they  de- 
sign, as  soon  as  the  wind  will  permit  them,  to  come  up  to  give  us  a 
severe  cannonading,  and  silence  our  batteries  if  possible.  I  have  the 
honor  to  be,  in  great  haste,  sir,  your  most  obedient. 

Sparks,  IV.  513. 
807.         Gen.  Sullivan  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

Whitemarsh,  Oct.  25,  1777. 
I  know  it  has  been  generally  reported  that  I  commanded  on  Long 
Island  when  the  action  happened  there.     This  is  by  no  means  true. 
Gen.  Putnam  had  taken  the  command  from  me  four  days  before  the 
action.     Lord  Stirling  commanded  the  main  body  without  the  lines. 
I  was  to  have  commanded  under  Gen.  Putnam  within  the  lines.     I 
was  uneasy  about  a  road  through  which  I  had  often  foretold  that  the 
enemy  would  come,  but  could  not  persuade  others  to  be  of  my  opin- 
ion.    I  went  to  the  hill  near  Flatbush  to  reconnoitre,  and  with  a 
picket  of  400  men  was  surrounded  by  the  enemy,  who  had  advanced 
by  the  very  road  I  had  foretold,  and  which  I  paid  horsemen  $50  for 
patrolling  by  night  while  I  had  the  command,  as  I  had  no  foot  for  the 
purpose.     What  resistance  I  made  ,with  these  four  hundred  men 
against  the  British  army,  I  leave  to  the  officers  who  were  with  me 
to  declare.     Let  it  sufiice  for  me  to  say,  that  the  opposition  of  this 
small  party  lasted  from  half  past  9  to  12  o'clock.    The  reason  of 
BO  few  troops  being  on  Long  Island  was  because  it  was  generally 
supposed  that  the  enemy's  landing  there  was  a  feint  to  draw  our 
troops  thither,  that  they  might  the  more  easily  possess  themselves 
of  New-York.     I  often  urged,  both  by  word  and  writing,  that,  as 
the  enemy  had  doubtless   both  these  objects  in  view,  they  would 


BATTLE    OF    LONG    ISLAND.  141 

first  try  for  Long  Island,  which  commanded  the  other;  and  then 
New-York,  which  was  completely  commanded  by  it,  would  fall  of 
course.  But  in  this  I  was  unhappy  enough  to  differ  from  almost  every 
officer  in  the  army,  till  the  event  proved  my  conjectures  were  just. 

808.  Lord  Stirling  to  Gen.    Washington. 

Eagle,  Aug.  29,  1776. 

My  dear  General  :  I  have  now  an  opportunity  of  informing 
you  of  what  has  happened  to  me  since  I  last  had  the  pleasure  of 
seeing  you.  About  3  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  27th,  I  was 
called  up,  and  informed  by  Gen.  Putnam  that  the  enemy  were  ad- 
vancing by  the  road  from  Flatbnsh  to  the  Red  Lion,  and  ordered  me 
to  march  with  the  two  regiments  nearest  at  htind  to  meet  them  ; 
these  happened  to  be  Haslet's  and  Smallwood's,  with  which  I  accord- 
ingly marched,  and  was  on  the  road  to  the  Narrows  just  as  the  day- 
light began  to  appear.  We  proceeded  to  within  about  half  a  mile 
of  the  Red  Lion,  and  there  met  Col.  Atlee,  with  his  regiment,  who 
informed  me  the  enemy  were  in  sight ;  indeed,  I  then  saw  their  front 
between  us  and  the  Red  Lion.  I  desired  Col.  Atlee  to  place  his 
regiment  on  the  left  of  the  road,  and  to  wait  their  coming  up,  while 
I  went  to  form  the  two  regiments  I  had  brought  with  me  along  a 
ridge  from  the  road  up  to  a  piece  of  wood  on  the  top  of  the  hill ; 
this  was  done  instantly  on  very  advantageous  ground.  Our  oppo- 
nents advanced,  and  were  fired  upon  in  the  road  by  Atlee's  regi- 
ment, who  after  two  or  three  rounds,  retreated  to  the  wood  on  my 
left,  and  there  formed.  13y  thi.s  time  Kichlinc's  riflemen  arrived  ; 
part  of  them  I  placed  along  a  hedge  under  the  front  of  the  hill, 
and  the  rest  in  the  front  of  the  wood.  The  troops  opposed  to  me 
were  two  brigades,  of  four  regiments  each,  under  the  command  of 
Gen.  Grant,  who  advanced  their  light  troops  to  within  one  hundred 
and  fifty  yards  of  our  right  front,  and  took  possession  of  an  orchard 
there,  and  some  hedges  Vv'hich  extended  towards  our  left ;  this 
brought  on  an  exchange  of  fire  between  those  troops  and  our  rifle- 
men, which  continued  for  about  two  hours,  and  then  ceased,  by  those 
light  troops  retiring  to  their  main  body.  In  the  meantime  Capt. 
Carpenter  brought  up  two  licld-pieces,  which  were  placed  on  the 
side  of  the  hill  so  as  to  coinmand  the  road  and  the  only  approach 
for  some  hundred  yards.  On  the  part  of  Gen.  Grant  there  were  two 
field-pieces ;  one  howitzer  advanced  to  within  300  yards  of  the  front 
7* 


142  LETTERS  RELATING  TO  THE 

of  our  right,  and  a  like  detachment  of  artillery  to  the  front  of  our 
left,  on  a  rising  ground,  at  about  600  yards  distance.  One  of  their 
brigades  formed  in  two  lines  opposite  to  our  right,  and  the  others 
extended  in  one  line  to  the  top  of  the  hills  in  front  of  our  left ;  in 
this  position  we  stood  cannonading  each  other  till  near  1 1  o'clock, 
when  I  found  that  Gen.  Howe,  with  the  main  body  of  the  army,  was 
between  me  and  our  lines,  and  saw  that  the  only  chance  of  escaping 
being  all  made  prisoners,  was  to  pass  the  creek  near  the  Yellow 
Mills ;  and  in  order  to  render  this  the  more  practicable,  I  found  it 
absolutely  necessary  to  attack  a  body  of  troops  commanded  by  Lord 
Cornwallis,  posted  at  the  house  near  the  Upper  Mills  ;  this  I  instant- 
ly did,  with  about  half  of  Smallwood's  regiment,  first  ordering  all 
the  other  troops  to  make  the  best  of  their  way  through  the  creek. 
We  continued  the  attack  a  considerable  time,  the  men  having  been 
rallied  and  the  attack  renewed  five  or  six  several  times,  and  were  on 
the  point  of  driving  Lord  Cornwallis  from  his  station,  but  large  suc- 
cors arriving  rendered  it  impossible  to  do  more  than  provide  for  safe- 
ty. I  endeavored  to  get  in  between  that  house  and  Fort  Box  ;  but 
on  attempting  it,  I  found  a  considerable  body  of  troops  in  my  front, 
and  several  in  pursuit  of  me  on  the  right  and  left,  and  a  constant 
firing  on  me.  I  immediately  turned  the  point  of  a  hill,  which  cov- 
ered me  from  their  fire,  and  was  soon  out  of  reach  of  my  pursuers. 
I  soon  found  it  would  be  in  vain  to  attempt  to  make  my  escape,  and 
therefore  went  to  surrender  myself  to  Gen.  De  Hcister,  commander- 
in-chief  of  the  Hessians. 

Grant  had  said  that  with  5000  men  he  could  march  from  one  end  of 
the  continent  to  the  other.  Stirling  after  forming  his  troops  said, "  Grant 
may  have  his  5,000  men  with  him,  we  are  not  so  many,  but  I  think  we 
are  enough  to  prevent  his  advancing  further  than  that  mill-pond." 
Stirling,  at  the  head  of  400  Maryland  troops,  attacked  a  corps  under 
Cornwallis,  stationed  in  a  house  at  some  short  distance  above  the  place 
at  which  he  proposed  to  cross  Gowanus  Creek. — Duel's  Life  of  Stirling, 
p.  1G3. 

[Was  this  the  old  Cortelyou  brick  house  ? — Ed.] 

809.  Col  Ilalsct  to  TIios.  Bodney. 

Camp  at  Bit.  Washington,  4th  Oct.,  1776. 
On  Sunday  25th  of  Aug.  last,  my  regiment  was  ordered  to  L.  I.,  in 
Lord  Stirling's  Brigade,  composed  mostly  of  the  Bouthern    troops,  by 


BATTLE   OF    LONG    ISLAND.  143 

whom  we  were  much  caressed,  and  highly  complimented  on  our  ap- 
pearance and  dexterity  in  the  military  exercise  and  manoeuvres.  On 
Tuesday  27th,  his  brigade,  consisting  of  5  regiments,  and  a  few  of  Sulli- 
van's, not  exceeding  5,000  men,  were  ordered  to  advance  beyond  the 
lines  and  repulse  the  enemy.  To  oppose  this  small  band  were  17,000 
regulars,  much  better  furnished  with  field-pieces  and  every  other  mili- 
tary appointment  than  we.  Several  of  the  regiments  were  broken  and 
dispersed  soon  after  the  first  onset.  The  Delawares  and  Marylanders 
stood  firm  to  the  last ;  and,  after  a  variety  of  skirmishing,  the  Dela- 
wares drew  up  on  the  side  of  a  hill,  and  stood  upwards  of  four  hours 
with  a  firm,  determined  countenance,  in  close  array,  their  colors  flying, 
the  enemy's  artillery  playing  on  them  all  the  while,  not  daring  to  ad- 
vance and  attack  them,  though  six  times  their  number  and  nearly  sur- 
rounding them.  Nor  did  they  think  of  quitting  their  station,  till  an  ex- 
press order  from  the  general  commanded  their  retreat  through  a  marsh 
and  over  a  creek,  the  only  opening  left,  which  they  effected  in  good 
order,  with  the  loss  of  one  man  drowned  in  passing.  The  Delawares 
alone  had  the  honor  of  bringing  off  23  prisoners.  I  must  also  do  Col. 
Smallwood's  battalion  the  justice  to  say,  that  the  spirited  attack  made 
by  them  on  the  enemy  at  the  time  the  Delawares  and  themselves  were 
retreating,  greatly  facilitated  the  escape  of  both.  27  of  the  Delawares 
next  morning  were  missing.  In  that  number  were  Lieuts.  Stewart  and 
Harney,  the  latter  a  prisoner,  and  the  other  not  yet  heard  of.  Major 
McDonough  was  wounded  in  the  knee  :  a  ball  passed  through  the  sleeve 
of  his  coat  without  wounding  the  arm  or  his  body.  Lt.  Anderson  had 
a  ball  lodged  in  his  throat,  Lt.  Corn  a  ball  still  in  his  back:  they  are 
recovered.  The  standard  was  torn  with  grape-shot  in  Ensign  Stephen's 
hand.  In  the  retreat  from  L.  I.,  which  was  conducted  with  great  pru- 
dence. Cols.  Shee,  Smallwood,  Hand,  and  some  others  I  do  not  recol- 
lect, were  called  into  council,  and  requested  to  take  the  defence  of  the 
lines  upon  us,  while  the  main  body  of  the  army  crossed  the  East  River 
to  N.  York,  which  was  accepted  ;  and  last  of  all  crossed  ourselves, 
thank  God,  in  safety. 

810.  From  an  American  Officer,  dated  Aug.  28,  1776. 

Yesterday's  occurrence,  no  doubt,  will  be  described  to  you  various 
ways :  I  embrace  this  leisure  moment,  to  give  as  satisfactory  an  ac- 
count as  I  am  able.  A  large  body  of  the  enemy,  that  landed  some  time 
since  on  L.  I.,  at  the  end  of  a  beautiful  plain,  had  extended  their  troops 
about  six  miles  from  the  place  of  their  first  landing.  There  were,  at 
this  time,  11  regiments  of  our  troops  posted  in.  different  parts  of  the 


144  LETTERS    RELATING   TO    THE 

woods,  between  our  lines  and  the  enemy,  through  which  they  must  pass, 
if  they  attempted  any  thing  against  us.  Early  in  the  morning,  our 
scouting  parties  discovered  a  large  body  of  the  enemy,  both  horse  and 
foot,  advancing  on  the  Jamaica  road  towards  us :  I  was  dispatched  to 
Gen.  Putnam,  to  inform  him  of  it.  On  my  way  back,  I  discovered,  as 
I  thought,  our  battalion  on  a  hill  coming  in,  dressed  in  hunting  shirts, 
and  was  going  to  join  them,  but  was  stopped  by  a  number  of  our 
soldiers,  who  told  me  they  were  the  enemy  in  our  dress, — on  this  I  pre- 
vailed on  a  sergeant  and  two  men  to  halt,  and  fire  on  them,  which  pro- 
duced a  shower  of  bullets,  and  we  were  obliged  to  retire.  In  the  mean 
time  the  enemy,  with  a  large  body,  penetrated  through  the  woods  on 
our  right  and  centre  or  front  ;  and  about  nine  o'clock,  landed  another 
body  on  our  right,  [at  Bennet's  Cove  ?]  the  whole  stretching  across  the 
field  and  woods,  between  our  works  and  our  troops,  and  sending  out 
parties,  accompanied  with  light  horse,  which  harassed  or  surrounded 
*and  surprised  our  new  troops,  who,  however,  sold  their  lives  dear.  Our 
orces  then  made  towards  our  lines,  but  the  enemy  had  taken  possession 
of  the  ground  before  them  by  stolen  marches.  Our  men  broke  through 
parties  after  parties,  but  still  found  the  enemy's  thousands  before  them. 
Cols.  Smallwood's,  Atlee's,  and  Haslet's  battalions,  with  Gen.  Stirling 
at  their  head,  had  collected  on  an  eminence  and  made  a  good  stand  ; 
but  the  enemy  fired  a  field-piece  on  them,  and  being  greatly  superior  in 
number,  obliged  them  to  retreat  into  a  marsh  ;  finding  it  out  of  their 
power  to  withstand  about  six  thousand  men,  they  waded  through  mud 
and  water  to  a  mill  opposite  them  ;  their  retreat  was  covered  by  the 
second  battalion,  which  had  reached  our  lines.  Col.  Lutz's  and  the  N. 
England  regiments  after  this  made  some  resistance  in  the  woods,  but 
were  obliged  by  superior  numbers  to  retire.  Co!s.  Miles's  and  Brod- 
head's  battalions,  finding  themselves  surrounded,  determined  to  fight 
and  run  :  they  did  so,  and  broke  through  English  and  Hessians,  dis- 
persed the  horse,  and  at  last  came  in  with  considerable  loss.  Col. 
Parry  was,  early  in  the  day,  shot  through  the  head,  encouraging  his 
men.  Eighty  of  our  battalion  came  in  this  morning,  having  forced 
their  way  through  the  enemy's  rear,  and  come  round  by  the  way  of 
Hellgate :  we  expect  more,  who  are  missing,  will  come  in  the  same 
way. 

811.     Extract  from  Col.  Smallwood's  Letter,  Oct.  12,  '7G. 
The  enemy  from  the  21st  to  the  27th  of  Aug.,  were  landing  their 
troops  on  the  lower  part  of  L.  I.,  where  they  jjitchcd  a  large  encamp- 
ment, and  ours  and    their   advanced    parties  were    daily  skirmishing 


BATTLE    OF    LONG    ISLAND.  145 

at  long  shot,  in  which  neither  party  suffered  much.  On  the  26th,  the 
Delaware  and  Maryland  troops,  which  composed  part  of  Lord  Stirling's 
brigade,  were  ordered  over.  Col.  Haslet  and  myself  were  detained  on  the 
trial  of  Lt.  Col,  Tedwitz.  After  our  dismission,  it  was  too  late  to  get  over, 
but  pushing  over  early  next  morning  we  found  our  regiments  engaged  ; 
Lord  Stirling  having  marched  them  off  before  day  to  take  possession  of 
the  woods  and  difficult  passes  between  our  lines  and  the  enemies'  en- 
campment. But  the  enemy,  overnight,  had  stole  a  march  on  our  gen- 
erals, having  got  through  those  passes,  met  and  surrounded  our  troops 
on  the  plain  grounds  within  two  miles  of  our  lines.  Lord  Stirling  drew 
up  his  brigade  on  an  advantageous  rising  ground,  where  he  was  attacked 
by  two  brigades  in  front,  headed  by  the  Gens  Cornwallis  [Cornwallis 
was  in  his  rear. — Ed  ]  and  Grant,  and  in  his  rear  the  main  body  stood 
ready  drawn  up  to  support  their  own  parlies,  and  intercept  the  retreat  of 
ours  :  this  excellent  disposition,  and  their  superior  numbers,  ought  to  have 
taught  our  generals  there  was  no  time  to  be  lost  in  securing  their  retrent, 
which  might  at  first  have  been  effected,  had  the  troops  formed  into  a 
heavy  column  and  pushed  their  retreat ;  but  the  longer  this  was  delayed 
it  became  the  more  dangerous,  as  they  were  then  landing  more  troops  in 
front  from  the  ships.  [Bennet's  Cove  ?]  Our  brigade  kept  their  ground 
for  several  hours,  and  in  general  behaved  well,  having  received  some 
heavy  fires  from  the  artillery  and  musketry  of  the  enemy,  whom  they 
repulsed  several  times  ;  but  their  attacks  were  neither  so  vigorous  or 
lasting  as  was  expected,  owing,  as  it  was  imagined,  to  their  being  cer- 
tain of  making  the  whole  brigade  prisoners  of  war,  for  by  this  time  they 
had  so  secured  the  passes  on  the  road  to  our  lines,  (seeing  our  parties 
were  not  supported  from  thence,  which  indeed  our  numbers  would  not 
admit  of,)  that  there  was  no  possibility  of  retreating  that  way.  Between 
the  place  of  action  and  our  lines  theref  lay  a  large  marsh  and  deep 
creek,  not  above  80  yds.  across  at  the  mouth,  (the  place  of  action  upon 
a  direct  line  did  not  much  exceed  a  mile  from  a  part  of  our  lines,) 
towards  the  head  of  which  creek  there  was  a  mill  and  bridge,  across 
which  a  certain  Col.  Ward,  from  New  England,  who  is  charged  with 
having  acted  a  bashful  part  that  day,  pnssed  over  with  his  regiment  and 
then  burnt  them  down,  though  under  cover  of  our  cannon,  which  would 
have  checked  the  enemy's  i)ursuit  at  any  time,  otherwise  this  bridge 
might  have  afforded  a  secure  retreat.  There  then  remained  no  other 
prospect  but  to  surrender,  or  attempt  to  retreat  over  this  marsh  and  creek 
at  the  mouth,  where  no  person  had  ever  been  known  to  cross.  In  the 
interim  I  applied  to  Gen.  Washington  for  some  regiments  to  march  out 


146  LETTERS  RELATING  TO  THE 

to  support  and  cover  their  retreat,  which  he  urged  would  be  attended 
with  too  great  risk  to  the  party  and  the  lines.  He  immediately  after- 
wards sent  for  and  ordered  me  to  march  down  a  New  England  regiment, 
and  Capt.  Thomas's  company,  which  had  just  come  over  from  N.  York, 
to  the  mouth  of  the  creek  opposite  where  the  brigade  was,  drawn  up, 
and  ordered  two  field-pieces  down  to  support  and  cover  their  retreat, 
should  they  make  a  push  that  way.  Soon  after  our  march,  they 
began  to  retreat,  and  for  a  short  time  the  fire  was  very  heavy  on  both 
sides,  till  our  troops  came  to  the  marsh,  where  they  were  obliged  to 
break  their  order,  and  escape  as  quick  as  they  could  to  the  edge  of  the 
creek,  under  a  brisk  fire,  notwithstanding  which  they  brought  off  28 
prisoners.  The  enemy  taking  advantage  of  a  commanding  ground, 
kept  up  a  continual  fire  from  four  field-pieces,  which  were  well  served 
and  directed,  and  a  heavy  column  advancing  on  the  marsh  must  have 
cut  our  people  off,  their  guns  being  wet  and  muddy,  not  one  of  them 
could  have  fired,  but  having  drawn  up  the  musketry  and  disposed  of 
some  riflemen  conveniently,  with  orders  to  fire  on  them  when  they  came 
within  shot.  However,  the  latter  began  their  fire  too  soon,  being  at  200 
yds.  distance,  which  notwithstanding  had  the  desired  efTect,  for  the  ene- 
my immediately  retreated  to  the  fast  land,  where  they  continued  parad- 
ing within  600  yds.  till  our  troops  were  brought  over.  Most  of  those 
who  swam  over,  and  others  who  attempted  to  cross  before  the  covering 
party  got  down,  lost  their  arms  and  accoutrements  in  the  mud  and  creek, 
and  some  fellows  their  lives,  particularly  two  of  the  Maryland,  two  of 
the  Delaware,  and  one  of  Astley's  Pennsylvania  regiments,  and  two 
Hessian  prisoners  were  drowned.  Thomas's  men  contributed  much  in 
bringing  over  this  party.  I  have  inclosed  a  list  of  the  killed  and  missing, 
amounting  to  256,  officers  included.  It  has  been  said  the  enemy  during 
the  action  also  attacked  our  lines,  but  this  was  a  mistake.  Not  know- 
ing the  ground,  one  of  their  columns  advanced  within  long  shot,  without 
knowing  they  were  so  near,  and  upon  our  artillery  and  part  of  the  mus- 
ketry's firing  on  them,  they  immediately  fled.  The  28th,  during  a  very 
hard  rain,  there  was  an  alarm  that  the  enemy  had  advanced  to  attack 
our  lines,  which  alarmed  the  troops  much,  but  was  without  foundation. 
The  29lh,  it  was  found  by  a  general  council  of  war,  that  our  fortifica- 
tions were  not  tenable,  and  it  was  therefore  judged  expedient  that  the 
army  should  retreat  from  the  Island  that  night.  To  effect  which,  not- 
withstanding the  Maryland  troops  had  but  one  day's  respite,  and  many 
other  troops  had  been  many  days  clear  of  any  detail  duty,  they  were 
ordered  on  the  advanced  post  nt  Fort  Putnam  within  250  yds.  of  the 


BATTLE    OF    LONG    ISLAND.  147 

enemy's  approaches,  and  joined  with  two  Pennsylvania  regiments  on 
the  left,  were  to  remain  and  cover  the  retreat  of  the  army,  which  was 
happily  completed  under  cover  of  a  thick  fog  and  a  southwest  wind, 
both  which  favored  our  retreat,  otherwise  the  fear,  disorder,  and  confu- 
sion of  some  of  the  eastern  troops  must  have  retarded  and  discovered 
our  retreat,  and  subjected  numbers  to  be  cut  off. 

[See  also  Col.  Graydon's  Memoirs. — Ed.] 

812.  N.  York,  Sep.  1,'76,  Last  Monday  we  went  over  to  L.  I.,  and 
about  midnight  were  alarmed  by  some  of  our  scouting  parties,  who  advis- 
ed us  that  the  enemy  were  coming  up  the  Island  with  several  field-pieces. 
Upon  which  near  3,000  men  were  ordered  out,  chiefly  of  Marylanders 
and  Pennsylvanians,  to  attack  them  on  their  march.  About  sunrise  we 
came  up  with  a  large  body  of  them.  The  Delaware  and  Maryland  bat- 
talion made  one  part.  Col.  Atlee,  with  his  battalion,  a  little  before  us, 
had  taken  post  in  an  orchard,  and  behind  a  barn  ;  and  on  the  approach 
of  the  enemy,  he  gave  them  a  very  severe  fire  for  a  considerable  time, 
till  they  were  near  surrounding  him,  when  he  retreated  to  the  woods. 
The  enemy  then  advanced  to  us,  when  Lord  Stirling,  who  commanded, 
immediately  drew  up  in  a  line,  and  offered  them  battle  in  the  true  Eng- 
lish taste.  The  British  then  advanced  within  about  300  yards  of  us, 
and  began  a  very  heavy  fire  from  their  cannon  and  mortars :  for  both 
the  balls  and  shells  flew  very  fast,  now  and  then  taking  off'  a  head. 
Our  men  stood  it  amazingly  well,  not  even  one  showed  a  disposition  to 
shrink.  Our  orders  were  not  to  fire  till  the  enemy  came  within  50  yards 
of  us  ;  but  when  they  perceived  we  stood  their  fire  so  coolly  and  resolute- 
ly, they  declined  coming  any  nearer,  though  treble  our  number.  In  this 
situation  we  stood  from  sunrise  till  12  o'clock,  the  enemy  firing  on  us 
the  chief  part  of  the  time,  when  the  main  body  of  British,  by  a  route  we 
never  dreamed  of,  had  surrounded  us,  and  driven  within  the  lines,  or 
scattered  in  the  woods,  all  our  men  except  the  Delaware  and  Maryland 
battalions,  who  were  standing  at  bay  with  double  their  number.  Thus 
situated,  we  were  ordered  to  attempt  a  retreat  by  fighting  our  way 
through  the  enemy,  who  had  posted  themselves  and  nearly  filled  every 
road  and  field  between  us  and  our  lines.  We  had  not  retreated  a  quar- 
ter of  a  mile,  before  we  were  fired  on  by  an  advanced  party  of  the 
enemy,  and  those  in  the  rear  playing  their  artillery  on  us.  Our  men 
fought  with  more  than  Roman  valor.  We  forced  the  advanced  party 
which  first  attacked  us  to  give  way,  through  which  opening  we  got  a 
passage  down  to  the  side  of  a  marsh,  seldom  before  waded  over,  which 
we  passed,  and  then  swam  a  narrow  river,  all  the  while  exposed  to  the 


148  LETTERS  RELATING  TO  THE 

enemy's  fire.  Capts.  Ramsaj''s  and  Scott's  companies  were  in  front 
and  sustained  the  first  fire  of  the  enemy,  when  hardly  a  man  fell. 
The  whole  of  the  right  wing  of  our  battalion  thinking  it  impossible  to 
march  through  the  marsh,  attempted  to  force  their  way  through  the 
woods,  where  they,   almost  to  a  man,  were  killed  or  taken. 

The  Maryland  battalion  has  lost  259  men,  amongst  whom  are  12 
officers:  Capts.  Veasy  and  Bowey  ;  Lts.  Butler,  Sterrit,  Dent,  Coursey, 
Muse,  Prawl  ;  Ensigns  Corts,  Fernandes.  Who  killed  and  who  pri- 
soners is  yet  uncertain.  Cols.  Atlee,  Miles  and  Piper,  are  also  taken. 
1,000  men  missing  in  all.  We  took  a  few  prisoners.  Many  officers 
lost  their  swords  and  guns.  Most  of  our  Generals  on  a  high  hill  in  the 
lines,  viewed  us  with  glasses,  as  we  were  retreating,  and  saw  the  enemy 
we  had  to  pass  through,  though  we  could  not.  Many  thought  we 
would  surrender  in  a  body  without  firing.  When  we  began  the  attack, 
[to  cut  through  ?]  Gen.  Washington  wrung  his  hands,  and  cried  out, 
"Good  God!  what  brave  fellows  I  must  this  day  lose!"  Major  Guest 
commanded  the  Maryland  battalion,  ( the  Col.  and  Lt.  Col.  being 
both  at  York,)  Capts.  Adams  and  Lucas  were  sick.  The  Major,  Capt. 
Ramsay,  and  Lt.  Plunket  were  foremost  and  within  100  yards  of  the 
enemy's  muzzles,  when  they  were  fired  on  by  the  enemy,  who  were 
chiefly  under  cover  of  an  orchard,  save  a  few  that  showed  themselves 
and  pretended  to  give  up  ;  clubbing  their  firelocks  till  we  came  within 
40  yards,  when  they  immediately  presented,  and  blazed  in  our 
faces ;  they  entirely  overshot  us,  and  killed  some  men  away  behind  in 
the  rear.  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  dropping  one  the  first  fire.  I  was 
80  near  I  could  not  miss.     I  discharged  my  rifle  7  times  that  day. 

813.       Frovi  an  Officer  in  Col.  Atlee  s  Battalion,  dated  Aug.  27. 

Yesterday,  about  120  of  our  men  went  as  a  guard  to  a  place  on  L. 
I.  called  Red  Lion  ;  about  1 1  at  night  the  sentries  descried  2  men 
coming  up  a  water-melon  patch,  upon  which  our  men  fired  on  them. 
The  enemy  then  retreated,  and  about  1  o'clock  advanced  with  200  or  300 
men,  and  endeavored  to  surround  our  guard,  but  they  being  watchful, 
gave  them  2  or  3  fires,  and  retreated  to  alarm  the  remainder  of  the  bat., 
except  one  Lt.  and  about  15  men  who  have  not  been  heard  of  as  yet. 
About  4  o'clock  this  morning,  the  alarm  was  given  by  beating  to  arms, 
when  the  remainder  of  our  battalion,  accompanied  by  the  Delaware  and 
Maryland  battalions,  went  to  the  place  our  men  retreated  from.  About 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  this  side,  we  saw  the  enemy,  when  we  got  into  the 
woods  (our  battalion  being  the  advance  guard)  amidst  the  incessant 
fire  of  their  field-pieces,  loaded  with  grape  shot,  which  continued  till 


BATTLE    OF    LONG    ISLAND.  149 

10  o'clock.  The  Marylanders  on  the  left,  and  we  on  the  right,  kept  up 
a  constant  iire  amid  all  their  cannon,  and  saw  several  of  them  fall ;  but 
they  being  too  many,  we  retreated  a  little,  and  then  made  a  stand. 
Our  Lt.  Col.  Parry  was  shot  through  the  head,  and  I  retreated  with 
him  to  secure  his  effects,  since  which,  I  hear  the  enemy  are  within  60 
yards  of  our  lines. 

814.  An  officer  of  distinction  in  the  battle,  having  seen  high 
encomiums  on  Col.  Miles,  writes  the  following,  as  a  corrective,  dated, 
N.  Y.,  Sep.  10, '76: 

"  The  enemy  were  some  days  encamped  at  Flatbush,  about  3^  miles 
South  and  East  of  our  lines.  Within  half  a  mile  of  the  enemy  is  a 
ridge  of  hills  covered  with  wood,  running  from  the  Narrows  about 
North-east  toward  .Tamaica,  about  6  miles.  Through  this  woods  are 
three  passes,  which  we  kept  strongly  guarded,  800  men  at  each,  to  pre- 
vent the  enemy  penetrating  the  woods.  The  night  before  Aug.  27,  on 
the  west  road  were  posted  Col.  Hand's  regiment,  a  detachment  from 
Penn.  and  N.  Y.,  next  East  were  posted  Col.  Johnson,  of  .Tersey,  and 
Lt.  Col.  Henshaw,  of  Mass.  ;  next  East  were  posted  Col.  Wyllys  and 
Lt.  Col.  Wills,  of  Conn. ;  East  of  all  these  Col.  Miles  of  Penn.  was 
posted  toward  Jamaica,  to  watch  the  motion  of  the  enemy,  and  give  in- 
telligence. Col.  Miles's  guard  on  the  East  of  the  woods,  by  some  fata- 
lity, what  I  don't  know,  suffered  the  enemy  to  march  their  main  body 
to  the  East  of  the  woods,  and  advance  near  two  miles  in  rear  of  our 
guards  in  the  woods  without  discovery.  Con.  Gaz.  No.  673. 

815.  Extract  of  a  Letter  from  an  American  Officer. 

"  Yesterday  morning,  or  some  time  in  the  night  before,  the  British 
landed  a  large  body  on  a  neck  of  land,  on  this  side  the  mountains,  and 
on  a  place  where  our  guards  were  stationed.  [Was  this  Bennet's  Cove  ?] 
This  soon  brought  on  a  warm  engagement,  which  lasted  from  2  or  3 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  to  1  or  2  in  the  afternoon.  The  British  en- 
deavored to  force  our  lines.  Our  batteries  mowed  them  down  like 
grass." 

816.  Samuel  Mills,  of  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  enlisted  in  May,  1776,  in  Capt. 
Jacob  Wright's  company  of  6  mo.  volunteers;  his  1st  lieut.  was  North, 
from  Newtown  ;  one  Wilson  of  Jamaica  was  orderly  sergeant.  Cap. 
Wright's  CO.  was  principally  from  Jamaica  ;  another  company  of  volun- 
teers from  Kings  county,  under  Capt.  Van  Nuys,  united  with  Cap. 
Wright's  CO.  to  fill  up  Col.  Lasher's  1st  New-York  regiment — Gen. 
Scolt's  brigade.  On  the  day  of  the  battle  of  L.  I.  Mills  was  one  of  the 
inside  guard  and  stationed  in  Cobble  Hill  fort,  was  not  in  the  battle  ; 


f 

150  LETTERS    RELATING    TO    THE 

his  Station  was  in  the  fort  for  that  day.  There  were  120  grenadiers  in 
Col.  Lasher's  regiment.  When  it  was  known  that  the  Americans  were 
retreating,  the  grenadiers  were  stationed  at  regular  distances  inside  the 
American  lines,  each  one  having  6  hand-grenades  beside  their  other 
arms.  In  the  afternoon  and  evening,  previous  to  crossing  over  to  N. 
Y.,  the  soldiers  were  continually  marching  and  countermarching  ;  one 
regiment  would  march  up  and  two  down,  one  up  and  two  down,  so  that 
the  troops  were  kept  in  ignorance  of  what  the  final  move  would  be,  but 
generally  supposed  that  an  attack  of  the  British  would  take  place  the 
next  day.  The  boats  were  constantly  going  and  coming  to  and  from 
N.  Y.  during  the  final  retreat,  and  when  Mills'  co.  landed  in  N.  Y.,  it 
was  3  o'clock  a.  m. 

From  Mrs.  Catharine  R.  Williams'  Life  of  Stephen  Olney  of 
Rhode  Island. 
817.  "  Soon  after  the  evacuation  of  Boston,  Olney's  regiment,  under 
Lt.  Col.  Ezekiel  Cornell  of  Scituate,  was  ordered  to  N.  Y.  They  arrived 
after  a  tedious  overland  march,  and  were  posted  on  Brooklyn  Heights, 
and  employed  in  throwing  up  fortifications.  Olney,  with  his  regiment, 
was  ordered  on  picket  guard,  and  lay  the  night  preceding  the  battle  on 
their  arms  in  a  wood  within  one  mile  of  the  enemy.  The  ground  be- 
ing covered  with  wood,  we  were  not  exactly  apprized  of  our  situation. 
At  daylight  hearing  a  firing  in  front  and  rear,  we  perceived  we  were 
surrounded,  but  saw  no  enemy  as  yet.  Lt.  Col.  Cornell  ordered  Capt. 
Tew's  platoon,  to  which  I  belonged,  to  move  in  front  to  protect  our  sen- 
tries, and  he  marched  our  regiment  toward  our  forts,  where  the  firing 
continued.  When  they  came  in  sight  of  the  enemy,  they  run  their  way 
through  and  gained  the  camp.  Many  who  hid  in  the  woods  came  lu 
the  camp  after  night.  But  to  return  to  Capt.  Tew.  He  marched  a  lit- 
tle distance  in  front,  but  as  the  firing  continued  in  our  rear,  he  detached 
me  with  20  men  in  front  to  protect  the  sentries,  and  he  marched  after 
and  shared  the  fate  of  his  reg. — the  fate  of  those  who  fell  on  the  sword 
of  the  enemy.  I  marched  forward  and  found  the  enemy  firing  their 
field-pieces  and  some  small  arms  into  the  woods,  where  our  sentries 
were  placed,  but  the  balls  seemed  to  make  most  havoc  in  the  tops  of  the 
trees.  I  placed  my  men  behind  trees,  and  they  kept  up  a  deliberate 
fire.  In  half  an  hour  the  firing  in  the  rear  ceased,  and  I  discovered  a 
party  of  the  enemy  coming  to  us  in  that  direction.  I  formed  my  men 
and  marched  off  in  very  quick  time  towards  our  home,  believing  the 
enemy  were  between  us  and  the  forts.  In  about  a  mile  we  came  out  of 
the  woods  into  a  field  beside  the  road  which  led  by  a  school-house,  by 


BATTLE    OF    LONG    ISLAND.  151 

which  we  must  pass  to  get  over  the  mill  dam  to  our  fort.  On  getting 
over  the  fence  I  saw  the  enemy  into  the  road,  as  near  the  school-house 
as  we  were,  drawn  up  in  line  viewing  our  works.  The  enemy  saw  us 
and  ran  ahead  and  fired  ;  nevertheless  I  got  nearly  all  my  men  past  the 
school-house.  After  we  passed  them  100  yards,  they  huddled  together 
on  the  road.  I  ordered  my  men  to  face  about,  give  them  one  well  di- 
rected fire,  which  I  saw  from  the  staggering  had  taken  good  effect.  Af- 
ter we  got  in  our  fort  there  came  on  a  dreadful  heavy  storm  with  thun- 
der and  lightning,  and  the  rain  fell  in  such  torrents  that  the  water  was 
soon  ankle-deep  in  the  fort.  With  all  these  inconveniences,  and  an 
enemy  just  without  musket-shot,  our  men  could  not  be  kept  awake. 
They  would  sit  down  and  fall  asleep,  though  Lt.  Col.  Cornell  threatened 
to  make  daylight  shine  through  them.  All  that  seemed  to  prevent  the 
enemy  taking  our  main  fort  was  a  scarecrow  row  of  palisades  from  the 
fort  to  low  water  in  the  cove,  which  Major  Box  had  set  up  that  morn- 
ing. On  our  retreat  to  N.  Y.,  we  had  to  take  our  baggage,  camp-equi- 
page, &c.,  on  our  shoulders  to  the  boats,  and  tedious  was  the  operation 
through  mud  and  mire."  Page  170-5. 

[The  above  account,  as  well  as  many  of  the  others,  is  quite  con- 
fused, owing  to  Olney's  ignorance  of  the  localities.  Perhaps  the  ori- 
ginal letters  would  clear  up  some  obscure  passages. — Ed.] 

Major  PophanCs  account  of  the  part  he  took  in  the  Battle  of  L.  I. 
818.  On  or  about  Aug  21,  '76,  I  arrived  in  N.  Y.  a  2d  Lt.  in  Col. 
Haslet's  regiment ;  a  few  days  after  I  was  ordered  with  the  Delaware 
regiment  to  cross  over  to  L.  I.,  on  Saturday,  I  believe.  On  Sunday  I 
saw  the  Maryland  regiment  reviewed  by  Col.  Smallwood  in  front  of  the 
Corkscrew  fort.  Next  day,  or  next  but  one,  I  marched  toward  the 
ground  occupied  by  our  army,  in  the  summit  of  the  high  ground  in  front 
of  Gowanus,  near  the  edge  of  the  river,  where  the  enemy  were  landing 
from  their  ships,  [Bennet's  Cove,]  one  or  two  lying  near  the  shore  to 
cover  the  landing.  Many  shots  were  exchanged  between  us  and  the 
enemy.  About  12  o'clock  Gen.  Stirling  came  to  the  east  brow  of  the 
hill  and  ordered  the  Delaware  regiment  up.  Here  we  received  the  first 
order  to  load  with  ball,  and  take  care  that  our  men  (who  were  awkward 
Irishmen  and  others)  put  in  the  powder  first.  We  then  marched  up 
and  joined  the  army  which  was  drawn  up  in  line,  my  regiment  and  my 
company  on  the  left.  The  whole  bay  was  covered  with  the  enemy's 
shipping.  The  firing  continued  all  the  time  of  the  enemy's  landing,  and 
we  lost  several  men.    About  this  time  the  enemy  began  to  send  detach 


152  LETTERS    RELATING    TO    THE 

ments  as  scouts  on  our  left,  when  Capt.  Wragg  and  18  men,  supposing 
us  to  be  Hessians  by  the  similarity  of  our  dress,  approached  too  near 
before  he  discovered  his  mistake,  when  my  company  attacked  and  took 
them  prisoners.  I  was  immediately  ordered  with  a  guard  to  convey 
them  across  the  creek  in  our  rear  to  our  lines.  On  descending  the  high 
ground  we  reached  a  salt  meadow,  over  which  we  passed,  though  not 
miry,  yet  very  unfavorable  to  silk  stockings  and  my  over-clothes.  When 
we  had  reached  about  half  way  to  the  creek,  the  enemy  brought  a 
couple  of  pieces  to  bear  upon  us,  which,  when  Wragg  saw,  he  halted, 
in  the  hope  of  a  rescue  ;  but  on  my  ordering  him  to  march  forward  in- 
stantly, or  I  should  fire  on  him,  he  moved  on.  When  we  got  to  the 
creek,  the  bank  of  which  was  exceedingly  muddy,  we  waded  up  to  our 
waists.  I  got  in  after  my  people  and  prisoners,  and  an  old  canoe  that 
had  been  split  and  incapable  of  floating  except  by  the  buoyancy  of  the 
wood,  served  to  help  those  who  wanted  help  to  cross  a  deep  hole  in  the 
creek,  by  pushing  it  across  from  the  bank  which  it  had  reached.  I  had 
advanced  so  far  into  the  mud,  and  was  so  fatigued  with  anxiety  and 
exercise,  that  I  sat  down  on  the  mud  with  the  water  up  to  my  breast, 
Wragg's  fusee,  cartouch-box,  and  bayonet  on  my  shoulder ;  in  which 
situation  I  sat  till  my  charge  were  all  safely  landed  on  the  rear. 

IVin.  Fopham,  at.  92. 

819.  Extract  of  a  Letter  from  a  British  Officer  on  L.  I.,  Sep.  4, '76, 

to  his  friend  in  Aberdeen. 
The  2d  battalion  of  grenadiers,  which  was  sent  from  our  right  to 
support  Gen.  Grant,  unfortunately  mistook  a  rebel  regiment  (blue  faced 
with  red)  for  the  Hessians,  and  received  several  fires  from  them  without 
returning  it;  and  Lt.  Wragg  of  the  marines,  and  20  men,  being  sent 
out  to  speak  to  them,  were  made  prisoners.  At  length  the  mistake  be- 
ing discovered,  they  were  soon  beat  and  dispersed,  but  we  lost  several 
officers  and  men,  and  some  of  the  rebels  got  off. 

820.         Narration  of  the  Battle  fought  on  Long  Island. 

Aug.  27,  '76.  James  S.  Martin,  a  native  of  Conn.,  publislied  in 
1830,  a  sketch  of  his  life,  under  the  title  of  '•  The  Adventures  of  a 
Revolutionary  Soldier." 

"  In  the  latter  part  of  the  month  of  August,  I  was  ordered  upon  a 
fatigue  party  ;  we  had  scarcely  reached  the  grand  parade,  when  I  saw 
our  sergeant  major  directing  his  course  up  Broadway,  towards  us,  in 
rather  an  unusual  step  for  him  ;  he  soon  arrived,  and  informed  us  and 


BATTLE    OF    LONG    ISLAND.  153 

then  the  commanding  officer  of  the  party,  that  he  had  orders  to  take 
off  all  belonging  to  our  regiment  and  march  us  to  our  quarters,  as  the 
regiment  was  ordered  to  Long  Island,  the  British  having  landed  in 
force  there.  Although  this  was  not  unexpected  to  me,  yet  it  gave  me 
rather  a  disagreeable  feeling,  as  I  was  pretty  well  assured  I  should  have 
to  snufF  a  little  gunpowder.  However,  I  kept  my  cogitations  to  ray- 
self,  went  to  my  quarters,  packed  up  my  clothes,  and  got  myself  in 
readiness  for  the  expedition  as  soon  as  possible.  I  then  went  to  the 
top  of  the  house,  where  I  had  a  full  view  of  that  part  of  the  Island  ;  I 
distinctly  saw  the  smoke  of  the  field-artillery,  but  the  distance  and  the 
unfavorableness  of  the  wind  prevented  my  hearing  their  report,  at  least 
but  faintly.  The  horrors  of  battle  then  presented  themselves  to  my 
mind  in  all  their  hideousness  ;  I  must  come  to  it  now,  thought  I — well, 
I  will  endeavor  to  do  my  duty  as  well  as  I  am  able,  and  leave  the 
event  with  Providence.  We  were  soon  ordered  to  our  regimental  pa- 
rade, from  which,  as  soon  as  the  regiment  was  formed,  we  were  marched 
off  for  the  ferry.  At  the  lower  end  of  the  street  were  placed  several 
casks  of  sea  bread,  made,  I  believe,  of  canel  and  pease-meal,  nearly 
hard  enough  for  musket  flints;  the  casks  were  unheaded,and  each  man 
was  allowed  to  take  as  many  as  he  could,  as  he  marched  by.  As  my 
good  luck  would  have  it,  there  was  a  momentary  halt  made  ;  I  im- 
proved the  opportunity  thus  offered  me,  as  every  good  soldier  should 
upon  all  important  occasions,  to  get  as  many  of  the  biscuit  as  I  possibly 
could  ;  no  one  said  any  thing  to  me,  and  1  filled  my  bosom,  and  took 
as  many  as  I  could  hold  in  my  hand,  a  dozen  or  more  in  all,  and  when 
we  arrived  at  the  ferry-stairs  I  stowed  them  away  in  my  knapsack. 
We  quickly  embarked  on  board  the  boats  ;  as  each  boat  started,  three 
cheers  were  given  by  those  on  board,  which  was  returned  by  the  nu- 
merous spectators  who  thronged  the  wharves  ;  they  all  wished  us  good 
luck,  apparently  ;  although  it  was  with  most  of  them,  perhaps,  nothing 
more  than  ceremony.  We  soon  landed  at  Brooklyn,  upon  the  Island, 
marched  up  the  ascent  from  the  ferry  to  the  plain.  We  now  began  to 
meet  the  wounded  men,  another  sight  I  was  unacquainted  with,  some 
with  broken  arms,  some  with  broken  legs,  and  some  with  broken  heads. 
The  sight  of  these  a  little  daunted  me,  and  made  me  think  of  home,  but 
the  sight  and  thought  vanished  together.  We  marched  a  short  distance, 
when  we  halted  to  refresh  ourselves.  Whether  we  had  any  other  vic- 
tuals beside  the  hard  bread  I  do  not  remember,  but  I  remember  my 
gnawing  at  them  ;  they  were  hard  enough  to  break  the  teeth  of  a  rat. 
One  of  the  soldiers  complaining  of  thirst  to  his  officer ;  look  at  that 


154  LETTERS  RELATING  TO  THE 

man,  said  he,  pointing  to  me,  he  is  not  thirsty,  I  will  warrant  it.  I  felt 
a  little  elevated  to  be  styled  a  man.  "While  resting  here,  which  was 
not  more  than  twenty  minutes  or  half  an  hour,  the  Americans  and 
British  were  warmly  engaged  within  sight  of  us.  What  were  the  feel- 
ings of  most  or  all  the  young  soldiers  at  this  time,  I  know  not,  but  I 
know  what  were  mine  ; — but  let  mine  or  theirs  be  what  they  might,  I 
saw  a  lieutenant  who  appeared  to  have  feelings  not  very  enviable  ; 
whether  he  was  actuated  by  fear  or  the  canteen,  T  cannot  determine 
now ;  I  thought  it  fear  at  the  time  ;  for  he  ran  round  among  the  men 
of  his  company,  snivelling  and  blubbering,  praying  each  one  if  he  had 
aught  against  him,  or  if  he  had  injured  any  one  that  they  would  forgive 
him,  declaring  at  the  same  time  that  he,  from  his  heart,  forgave  them  if 
they  had  offended  him,  and  I  gave  him  full  credit  for  his  assertion  ;  for 
had  he  been  at  the  gallows  with  a  halter  about  his  neck,  he  could  not 
have  shown  more  fear  or  penitence.  A  fine  soldier  you  are,  I  thought, 
a  fine  officer,  an  exemplary  man  for  young  soldiers.  The  officers  of  the 
new  levies  wore  cockades  of  different  colors  to  distinguish  them  from 
the  standing  forces,  as  they  were  called  ;  the  field  officers  wore  red, 
the  captains  white,  and  the  subaltern  officers  green.  While  we  were 
resting  here  our  Lieutenant-Colonel  and  Major,  (our  Colonel  not  being 
with  us,)  took  their  cockades  from  their  hats  ;  being  asked  the  reason, 
the  Lieutenant-Colonel  replied,  that  he  was  willing  to  risk  his  life  in 
the  cause  of  his  country,  but  was  unwilling  to  stand  a  mark  for  the 
enemy  to  fire  at.  He  was  a  fine  officer  and  a  brave  soldier.  We  were 
soon  called  upon  to  fall  in  and  proceed.  We  had  not  gone  far,  about 
half  a  mile,  when  1  heard  one  in  the  rear  ask  another  where  his  musket 
was  ;  I  looked  round  and  saw  one  of  the  soldiers  stemming  off"  without 
his  gun,  having  left  it  where  we  last  halted  ;  he  was  inspecting  his  side 
as  if  undetermined  whether  he  had  left  it  or  not,  he  then  fell  out  of  the 
ranks  to  go  in  search  of  it:  one  of  the  company  who  had  brought  it  on 
(wishing  to  see  how  far  he  would  go  before  he  missed  it)  gave  it  to  him. 
We  overtook  a  small  party  of  artillery  here,  dragging  a  heavy  twelve 
pounder  upon  a  field  carriage,  sinking  half  way  into  sandy  soil. — They 
plead  hard  for  some  one  to  assist  them  to  get  on  their  piece  ;  our  offi- 
cers paid  no  attention  to  their  entreaties,  but  pressed  forward  towards 
a  creek,  where  a  large  party  of  Americans  and  British  were  engaged. 
By  the  time  we  arrived,  the  enemy  had  driven  our  men  into  the  creek, 
or  rather  mill  pond,  (the  tide  being  up,)  where  such  as  could  swim  got 
across ;  those  that  could  not  swim,  and  could  not  procure  any  thing  to 
buoy  them  up,  sunk.     The  British  having  several  field-pieces  stationed 


BATTLE    OF    LONG    ISLAND.  155 

by  a  brick  house,  were  pouring  the  cannister  and  grape  upon  the  Amer- 
icans like  a  shower  of  hail  ;  they  would  doubtless  have  done  them 
much  more  damage  than  they  did,  but  for  the  twelve  pounder  men- 
tioned above  ;  the  men  having  gotten  it  within  sufficient  distance  to 
reach  them,  and  opening  a  fire  upon  them,  soon  obliged  them  to  shift 
their  quarters.  There  was  in  this  action  a  regiment  of  Maryland 
troops  (volunteers),  all  young  men.  When  they  came  out  of  the  wa- 
ter and  mud  to  us,  looking  like  water  rats,  it  was  truly  a  pitiful  sight. 
Many  of  them  were  killed  in  the  pond,  and  more  were  drowned. 
Some  of  us  went  into  the  water  after  the  fall  of  the  tide,  and  took  out 
a  number  of  ihe  corpses  and  a  great  many  arms  that  were  sunk  in  the 
pond  and  creek.  Our  regiment  lay  on  the  ground  we  then  occupied 
the  following  night.  The  next  day  in  the  afternoon,  we  had  a  consid- 
erable tight  scratch  with  about  an  equal  number  of  the  British,  which 
began  rather  unexpectedly,  and  a  little  whimsically.  A  few  of  our 
regiment  went  over  the  creek,  upon  business  that  usually  employed  us, 
that  is,  in  search  of  something  to  eat.  There  was  a  field  of  Indian 
corn  at  a  short  distance  from  the  creek,  with  several  cocks  of  hay 
about  half  way  from  the  creek  to  the  cornfield  ;  the  men  purposed  to 
get  some  of  the  corn,  or  any  thing  else  that  was  eatable.  When  they 
got  up  with  the  haycocks,  they  were  fired  upon  by  about  an  equal 
number  of  the  British,  from  the  cornfield  ;  our  people  took  to  the  hay, 
and  the  others  to  the  fence,  where  they  exchanged  a  number  of  shots 
at  each  other,  neither  side  inclining  to  give  back.  A  number,  say  forty 
or  fifty  more  of  our  men,  went  over  and  drove  the  British  from  the 
fence  ;  they  were  by  this  time  reinforced  in  their  turn,  and  drove  us 
back.  The  two  parties  kept  thus  alternately  reinforcing,  until  we  had 
the  most  of  our  regiment  in  action.  After  the  officers  came  to  com- 
mand, the  English  were  soon  routed  from  the  place,  but  we  dare  not 
follow  them  for  fear  of  falling  into  some  snare,  as  the  whole  British 
army  was  in  the  vicinity  of  us ;  I  do  not  recollect  that  we  had  any  one 
killed  outright,  but  we  had  several  severely  wounded,  and  some  I  be- 
lieve mortally.  Our  regiment  was  alone,  no  other  troops  being  near 
where  we  were  lying  ;  we  were  upon  a  rising  ground,  covered  with  a 
young  growth  of  trees  ;  we  felled  a  fence  of  trees  around  us  to  prevent 
the  approach  of  the  enemies'  horse.  We  lay  there  a  day  longer  :  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  afternoon  there  fell  a  very  heavy  shower,  which  wet  us 
all  to  the  skin,  and  much  damaged  our  ammunition  ; — about  sunset, 
when  the  shower  had  passed  over,  we  were  ordered  to  parade  and  dis- 
charge our  pieces.     We  attempted  to  fire  by  platoons  for  improvement. 


156  LETTERS  RELATING  TO  THE 

but  we  made  blundering  work  of  it  ;  it  was  more  like  a  running  fire, 
than  firing  bj^  divisions :  however,  we  got  our  muskets  as  empty  as  our 
stomachs,  and  with  half  the  trouble,  nor  was  it  half  the  trouble  to  have 
reloaded  them,  for  we  had  wherewithal  to  do  that,  but  not  so  with  our 
stomachs. 

"  Just  at  dusk,  I,  with  one  or  two  others  of  our  company,  went  off  to 
a  barn,  about  half  a  mile  distant,  with  intent  to  get  some  straw  to  lodge 
upon,  the  ground  and  leaves  being  drenched  with  water,  and  we  as  wet 
as  they  ;  it  was  quite  dark  in  the  barn,  and  while  I  was  fumbling  about 
the  floor,  some  one  called  to  me  from  the  top  of  the  mow,  inquiring 
where  I  was  from  ;  I  told  him.  He  asked  me  if  we  had  not  had  an 
engagement  there,  (having  heard  us  discharge  our  guns;)  I  told  him 
we  had,  and  a  severe  one  too  ;  he  asked  if  many  were  killed  ;  I  told 
him  that  I  saw  none  killed,  nor  any  very  badly  wounded.  I  then 
heard  several  others,  as  it  appeared,  speaking  on  the  mow.  Poor  fel- 
lows, they  had  better  have  been  at  their  posts,  than  skulking  in  a  barn 
on  account  of  a  little  wet,  for  I  have  not  the  least  doubt  but  that  the 
British  had  possession  of  their  mortal  parts  before  the  noon  of  next  day. 
I  could  not  find  any  straw,  but  found  some  wheat  in  the  sheaf,  standing 
by  the  side  of  the  floor;  I  took  a  sheaf  or  two  and  returned  as  fast  as  I 
could  to  the  regiment.  When  I  arrived  the  men  were  all  paraded  to 
march  off  the  ground  ;  I  left  my  wheat,  seized  my  musket,  and  fell  into 
the  ranks.  We  were  strictly  enjoined  not  to  speak,  or  even  cough, 
while  on  the  march.  All  orders  were  given  from  officer  to  officer,  and 
communicated  to  the  men  in  whispers.  What  such  secrecy  could  mean 
we  could  not  divine.  We  marched  off  in  the  same  way  we  had  come 
on  the  Island,  forming  various  conjectures  among  ourselves  as  to  our 
destination.  Some  were  of  opinion  that  we  were  to  endeavor  to  get  on 
the  flank  or  in  the  rear  of  the  enemy.  Others,  that  we  were  going  up 
the  East  River,  to  attack  them  in  that  quarter  ;  but  none,  it  seems,  knew 
the  right  of  the  matter.  We  marched  on,  however,  until  we  arrived  at 
the  ferry,  where  we  immediately  embarked  on  board  the  batteaux,  and 
were  conveyed  safely  to  New- York,  where  we  were  landed  about  three 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  nothing  against  our  inclinations." 

821.  Avg.  23.  Before  day  the  enemy  began  to  land  a  body  of  troops 
at  Utrecht.  The  morning  was  foggy.  They  were  discovered  to  be  still 
landing  after  sunrise.  By  about  2  o'clock  they  reached  Flatbush,  where 
they  were  met  by  a  body  of  our  people,  who  skirmished  with  them  to 
advantage.  After  that  we  kept  a  picket  guard  of  1500  between  Flat- 
bush  and  Brooklyn  in  the  woods  and  on  eminences,  who  were  continually 


BATTLE    OF    LONG    ISLAND.  157 

skirmishing  with  the  enemy.  From  the  south  part  of  the  Bay  below 
Bushwick  in  a  line  drawn  from  (z)  straight  on  a  little  to  the  left  of  (j) 
down  to  the  creek  running  up  to  and  by  Brooklyn,  were  our  lines  and 
forts,  by  which  we  had  inclosed  a  tract  of  land  to  the  westward,  next 
to  N.  Y.  Our  lines  fronted  east.  On  the  left,  near  the  lowest  part  of 
the  above  described  bay,  was  Fort  Putnam  ;  near  the  middle,  Fort 
Greene  ;  and  towards  the  creek,  Fort  Box :  the  whole  were  composed 
of  forts,  redoubts,  breastworks,  &c.  On  Monday  night  about  5,000  of 
the  enemy,  with  50  or  GO  light  horse,  filed  off  to  the  right  up  to  Bush- 
wick, crossing  the  flat  lands,  and  making  a  circuit  to  avoid  our  advanced 
posts,  with  a  design  of  falling  upon  our  left.  We  had  made  the  roads 
leading  to  our  lines  from  the  different  adjacent  towns  quite  inconvenient 
or  unsafe.  A  heavy  detachment  marched  on  Tuesday  morning  before 
day  from  the  Narrows  to  attack  our  advanced  guards  in  that  quarter, 
and  on  coming  up  with,  began  to  engage  them.  On  that,  Lord  Stirling 
went  off  with  about  1200  to  support  them.  Ere  he  arrived,  the  enemy 
landed  a  body  of  3,000  in  the  small  bay  just  below  the  mouth  of  the 
creek,  which  obliged  him  to  form  his  men  in  two  lines  meeting  in  an 
obtuse  angle,  one  stretching  up  to  the  creek  between  the  regulars  and 
Brooklyn,  the  other  leading  away  from  that,  where  it  formed  the  angle 
towards  Flaibush,  and  was  joined  by  a  number  of  the  picket  guard. 
Lord  Stirling  began  to  engage  the  enemy  a  little  after  sunrise.  About 
two  hours  after  that,  between  9  and  10,  the  5,000  that  had  marched  all 
night  and  taken  a  circuit  to  Bushwick,  fell  upon  the  rear  of  our  north 
road  picket  guard  under  Gen.  Parsons,  which  occasioned  another  body 
of  our  men  under  Gen.  Sullivan  to  advance  that  way  with  a  view  of 
supporting  them.  A  great  part  of  the  north  road  picket  guard  fought 
their  way  down  to  the  creek.  The  Hessians  marched  over  Flatbush 
Plains,  and  formed  a  middle  line  in  such  a  direction  as  to  prevent  Gen. 
Sullivan's  getting  into  our  lines  in  the  usual  way  ;  and  his  men  were 
therefore  obliged  to  cross  the  creek  at  the  upper  part,  next  to  a  mill-dam. 
Lord  Stirling's  men,  after  having  fought  a  long  while,  forded  the  mouth 
of  the  creek  next  to  the  bay.  When  the  5,000  had  got  down  to  the 
right  of  our  lines,  next  to  the  creek,  they  made  an  attack,  but  were  re- 
pulsed. The  lines  between  Box  Fort  and  the  creek  were  not  completed 
the  day  before.  There  was  an  opening  adjoining  the  creek,  which  it 
was  thought  the  enemy  was  acquainted  with  ;  for  when  they  came  to 
it  and  found  the  entrance  closed  with  a  breastwork  and  other  defences, 
they  appeared  confounded.  However,  they  made  the  attack  with  one 
party,  and  then  with  another,  supposed  with  a  view  chiefly  of  carrying 

8 


158  LETTERS    RELATING    TO    THE 

off  the  dead  and  wounded  under  cover  of  the  fire.  Our  people  found 
afterwards  about  100  packs.  My  informer  rode  down  to  the  troops  in 
this  part  of  the  line  with  a  message  from  an  officer  more  to  the  left,  who 
saw  the  movement  of  the  enemy,  intimating  his  apprehension  that  they 
would  be  attacked,  and  they  were  in  immediate  readiness.  The  enemy 
proposing  to  cut  off  and  make  prisoners  as  many  of  our  men  as  possi- 
ble, pressed  hard  upon  them.  We  had  great  numbers  in  a  salt-marsh 
near  the  creek,  who  were  fired  upon  without  having  more  than  one 
killed.  The  enemy's  fire  did  but  little  execution,  the  balls  flying  gen- 
erally over  the  heads  of  our  people.  Several  of  our  men  having  no 
chance  of  escaping  otherwise,  betook  themselves  to  the  woods  and  after- 
wards came  in.  When  the  engagement  began  our  lines  were  thinly 
manned,  but  4  regiments  being  called  in  and  others  brought  over  from 
N.  Y.,  there  was  a  sufficient  number  before  an  attack  could  be  made. 
Our  artillerymen  behaved  heroically.  On  Wednesday,  in  a  heavy 
shower  of  rain,  the  enemy  attacked  our  lines  between  Forts  Greene  and 
Putnam.  Our  men  were  directed  (and  readily  complied)  to  lie  upon 
the  ground,  with  their  bodies  over  their  firelocks,  so  that  the  enemy  got 
repulsed.  We  went  over  with  boats  about  7  o'clock.  The  brigades 
were  ordered  to  be  in  readiness  with  bag  and  baggage  to  march,  but 
knew  not  where  or  for  what ;  the  2d  did  not  know  where  the  1st  had 
gone  ;  nor  the  3d,  the  2d.  The  last  marched  off  at  the  firing  of  the 
3  o'clock  gun  on  Friday  morning.  The  night  was  remarkably  still, 
the  water  smooth  as  glass,  so  that  all  our  boats  went  over  safe,  though 
many  were  but  about  3  inches  out  of  water.  At  sunrise  a  great  fog 
came  up.  We  left  half  a  dozen  large  guns.  3  or  4  men  were  missing, 
who  came  off  in  a  batteau.  On  Friday  or  Saturday  the  British  vessels 
came  up  to  the  desired  place.  My  informant  was  on  horseback  in  the 
lines,  and  had  a  spy-glass,  and  saw  most  of  the  proceedings  Gen.  Par- 
sons was  surrounded  in  a  swamp  and  narrowly  escaped.  Grant  said  he 
yras  slain  by  our  Gen.  Parsons. — Independent  {Boston)  Chronicle,  Sep. 
19, '76. 

New-York,  Sep.  5,  1776.  A  list  of  the  American  officers  prison- 
ers with  the  enemy,  who  sent  by  flag  for  their  baggage  and  cash.  Their 
friends  were  desired  to  send  next  door  to  Gen.  Putnam's  their  trunks, 
&c.,  properly  directed,  and  leave  their  cash  at  the  General's,  that  they 
might  be  sent  by  the  first  flag. 

O"  The  names  included  in  brackets  are  inserted  by  the  editor. 


BATTLE    OF    LONG    ISLAND.  159 

1st  Pennsylvavia  Battalion. 
Cols.  Miles,  Piper ;  Capts.  Brown,  Peebles,  Crawl  ;  Lts.  Scott, 
Gray,  Spear,  Drasbach,  Mcpherson,  Lee,  Brodhead,  Davis,  Wert,  Top- 
ham  ;  Drs.  John  and  Jos.  Davies.  Col.  Lutz,  Mr.  David  Duncan,  Mr. 
Young,  Major  Bird,  Capt.  Heiden,  [2d  Lts.  Jacquet  and  Carna- 
han,  missing.  2d  Lts.  Sloan  and  Brownlee.  Chas  Taylor,  3d  Lt., 
killed.] 

Col.  Kichline's  Eegitnent. 

Capt.  Graff;  Lts.  Lewis,  Middah,  Shoemaker. 

Col.  Lasher's  N.  Y.  Battalion. 
Adj.  Hoogland  ;  Lts.  Troup  and  Dunscomb  ;  Mr.  Van  Wagenenand 
Gilliland,  volunteers.     [Maj.  Abeel,  killed  ] 

Col.  Sinullwood's  Battalion. 
Capt.   Dan'l  Bowie,  wounded  ;    Lts.   Wm.   Steret,  Wm.  Ridgely, 
Hatch  Dent,  Walter  Muse,  Sam'l  Wright,  Jos.   Butler,  wounded;  Ed- 
ward PraCl,  Edward  De   Courcey  ;  Ensigns  Jas.   Fernandes,  William 
Courts. 

Col.  Huntington's  Begiment. 

Lt.  Makepeace,  Capt.  Brewster;  Ensigns  Lyman,  Chapman,  Hin- 
man,  Bradford  ;  Lt.  Orcutl,  Ensign  Higgins,  Capt.  Bissel ;  Lts.  Gillet 
and  Gay  ;  Adj.  Hopkins,  Dr.  Holmes,  Col.  Clark.  [Missing,  6  Capts, 
6  Lts.,  21  sergeants,  2  drummers,  126  rank  and  file.] 

Col.  Alice's  Eegiment. 

Col.  Atlee  ;  Capts.  Howell,  Nice,  Herbert,  Murray  ;  Lts.  Houston, 
Finney,  Henderson  ;  Dr.  Young,  volunteer. 

John  Toms,  of  Col.  Johnson's  Reg.,  Mr.  Callender,  Cadet  of  artille- 
ry. Mr.  Kearnes,  Del.  Bat.— Maj.  Wells,  of  Col.  Willys'  Reg.  En- 
sign Davies.     Capt.  Hurst. 

[Lt.  Col.  Parry,  killed.  Lt.  Moore,  killed.  Ensign  App,  missing. 
Killed  and  missing,  13  sergeants  and  235  privates.] 

American  account  of  Prisoners  in  the  3  Fennsijlvania  Battalions. 

1st  Battalion. 
Col.  Sam'l  Miles,  Lt.  Col.  Jas  Piper,  Capt.  Richard  Brown;  1st 
Lts.  Wm.  Grey,  John  Spear,  John  Davis,  Geo.  Wert  ;  2d  Lts.  Jos. 
Friesback,  Wm.  Mcpherson,  Luke  Brodhead  ;  Drs.  John  and  Jos.  Da- 
vis. [2d  Lt.  Jos.  Jaquet,  missing.  Missing  of  Farmer's,  Brown's, 
Long's,  AUbright's,  Shade's,  Weitzell's,  9  sergeants,  4  drummers,  107 
privates.] 


160  LETTERS  RELATING    TO    THE 

M  Bat.  of  Rifle  Regiment. 
Capt.  Wm.   Peebles  ;  1st  Lts.  Mat.   Scott,  Dan'l  Topham  ;   2d  Lt. 
David   Sloan  ;  3d  Lt.   Jos.  Brownlee.     [2d  Lt.  Jas  Carnagan,  missing. 
3d  Lt.  Chas  Taylor,  killed.     Missing  of  Murray's,  Peeble's,  Marshall's, 
Erwin's,  Grubb's,  Christ's,  6  sergeants,  1  drummer,  40  privates.] 

Bat.  of  Musketry. 
Col.  Sam'i  J.  Atlee,  [Lt.  Col.  Caleb  Parry,  killed  ;]  Capts.  Francis 
Murray,  Thos.  Herbert,  John  Nice,  Jos.  Howell ;  Lt.  Walter  Finney  ; 
Ensigns  Wm,  Henderson,  Alex.  Huston,  Septimus  Davis,  Michael 
App,  missing.  Lt.  Jos.  Moore,  killed.  Missing  of  Anderson's,  Mur- 
ray's, Herbert's,  Dehoff's,  Nice's,  Howell's,  McClelland,  late  Lloyd's,  1 
sergeant,  1  drummer,  75  privates. 

Howe's  return  of  prisoners  taken  Aug.  27. 

3  Generals.— 3  Cols;  Penn.  Rifle  Reg.  1,  Penn.  Musketeers  1,  N. 
J.  Militia  1.— 4  Lt  Cols;  Penn.  Rifle  Reg.  1,  Penn.  Militia  2,  17th 
Cont.  Reg.  1.— 3  Majors;  Penn.  Militia  1,  17th  Cont.  MiHtia  1,  22d 
do.  1.— 18  Capts;  Penn.  Rifle  Reg.  2,  Penn.  Musketeers  4,  Penn.  Mili- 
tia 5,  17th  Cont.  Reg.  4,  Train  of  artillery  1,  Maryland  Provincials  2. — 
43  Lis;  Penn.  Rifle  Reg.  11,  Penn.  Musketeers  1,  Penn.  Militia  6, 
17th  Cont.  Reg.  6,  Del.  Bat.  2,  1st  Bat.  N.  Y.  Cont.  5,  11th  Bat.  Cont. 
1,  N.  J.  Militia  1,  1st  Bat.  Maryland  Independents  2,  L.  L  Militia  2, 
Train  of  artillery  1,  Maryland  Provincials  5. — 11  Ensigns;  Penn  Mus- 
keteers 4,  17th  Cont.  Reg.  5,  Maryland  Provincials  2. — Staff;  Adjutant 
1,  Surgeons  3,  Volunteers  2,  Privates  1006.— Total  1097. 

N.  B.  9  oflicers  and  58  privates  of  the  above  wounded. 

822.  Mifflin  and  Grayson  rode  to  the  outposts  on  the  west  ex- 
tremity of  the  lines,  near  Red  Hook,  where  there  was  a  small  bat- 
tery which  had  sufllered  severely  from  the  cannonade  of  the  Roebuck, 
Aug.  27.  While  there  the  fog,  which  lay  heavily  over  this  part  of  the 
harbor,  was  lifted  by  a  shift  of  wind,  and  the  British  fleet,  lying  at  its 
anchorage  off"  Staten  L,  and  within  the  Narrows,  could  be  plainly  seen. 
Boats  were  passing  to  and  from  the  Admiral's  ship.  They  returned  to 
Washington  and  urged  the  withdrawal  of  the  army.  Capt  Montresor, 
with  a  small  party,  first  crossed  the  crest  of  our  works  and  found  the 
camp  deserted.  The  advanced  parties  arrived  at  the  ferry,  just  as  the 
last  boat-load  of  Americans  had  passed  out  of  musket  range. 

Reed,  1.  229. 

823.  On  the  night  of  the  28lh,  the  British  threw  up  a  redoubt  on  the 
heights  east  of  Ft.  Putnam,  from  which  they  opened  n  fire  on  the  fort ;  and 


BATTLE    OF    LONG    ISLAMD.  161 

on  the  29th  they  made  a  show  of  attacking  the  lines.  A  strong  column 
menaced  this  on  land  of  Geo.  Powers.  The  Americans  were  here  pre- 
pared to  receive  them,  and  orders  were  issued  to  reserve  their  fire  till 
they  could  see  the  white  of  their  eyes.  A  few  British  officers  reconnoi- 
tered  the  American  lines,  when  one  coming  too  near,  was  shot  by  Wm. 
Van  Cott  of  Bushwick,  who  then  put  up  his  gun,  and  said  he  had  done  his 
part.  Col.  Phihp  Johnson  of  Sidney,  N.  J.,  fell  in  the  battle  of  the  27th. 
He  was  of  Sullivan's  division,  who  says  of  him,  "  No  officer  could  be 
braver  in  this  action."  Gen.  Johnson. 

824.  JV".  Y.,  Aug.  29.  Wednesday  afternoon  a  great  hail  and  rain 
storm  came  on,  attended  with  thunder  and  lightning  ;  at  which  time 
the  ministerial  army  attacked  our  lines  on  L.  I.,  at  three  different  places, 
with  their  utmost  force  ;  but  the  intrepidity  of  the  soldiers  of  the  United 
States  repulsed  them  ;  so  that  they  were  obliged  immediately  to  retreat 
precipitately.  The  men-of-war  at  the  same  time  made  an  attempt  to 
come  up  to  the  city,  as  they  did  also  the  day  before,  but  the  wind  at 
both  times  entirely  obstructed  them.  N.  E.  Chronicle. 

The  Retreat  of  the  American  Army. 

825.  PROCEEDINGS  OF  A  COUNCIL  OF  GENERAL  OFFICERS. 

At  a  Council  of  War  held  on  Long  Island,  August  29th,  1776 — 

Present,  His  Excellency  Gen.  Washington,  Maj.  Gens.  Putnam, 
Spencer  ;  Brig.  Gens.  Mifflin,  McDougal,  Parsons,  Scott,  Wadsworth, 
Fellows. 

It  was  submitted  to  the  consideration  of  the  Council,  whether,  under 
all  circumstances,  it  would  not  be  eligible  to  leave  Long  Island,  and  its 
dependencies,  and  to  remove  to  New-York.  Unanimously  agreed  in 
the  affirmative,  for  the  following  reasons  : 

1st.  Because  our  advanced  party  had  met  with  a  defeat,  and  the 
wood  was  lost,  where  we  expected  to  make  a  principal  stand. 

2d.  The  great  loss  sustained  in  the  death  or  captivity  of  several  valu- 
able officers,  and  their  battalions,  or  a  large  portion  of  them,  had  occa- 
sioned great  confusion  and  discouragement  among  the  troops. 

3d.  The  heavy  rain  which  fell  two  days  and  nights  without  inter- 
mission, had  injured  the  arms,  and  spoiled  a  great  part  of  the  ammuni- 
tion ;  and  the  soldiery,  being  without  cover,  and  obliged  to  lay  in  the 
lines,  were  worn  out,  and  it  was  to  be  feared  would  not  be  retained  in 
them  by  any  order. 

4th.  From  the  time  the  enemy  moved  from  Flatbush,  several  large 
ships  had  endeavored  to  get  up,  as  supposed  into  the  East  River,  to  cut 


162  LETTERS  RELATING  TO  THE 

off  our  communications,  (by  which  the  whole  army  would  have  been 
destroyed,)  but,  the  wind  being  N.E.,  could  not  effect  it. 

5th.  Upon  consulting  with  persons  of  knowledge  of  the  harbor,  they 
were  of  opinion  that  small  ships  might  come  between  Long  Island 
and  Governor's  Island,  where  there  are  no  obstructions,  and  which 
would  cut  off  the  communication  effectually  ;  and  who  were  also  of 
opinion  the  hulks  sunk  between  Governor's  Island  and  the  city  of  New- 
York  were  no  sufficient  security  for  obstructing  that  passage. 

6th.  Though  our  lines  were  fortified  by  some  strong  redoubts,  yet  a 
great  part  of  them  were  weak,  being  abattied  with  brush,  and  affording 
no  strong  cover, — so  that  there  was  reason  to  apprehend  they  might  be 
forced,  which  would  put  our  troops  in  confusion,  and,  having  no  retreat, 
they  must  have  been  cut  to  pieces  or  made  prisoners. 

7th.  The  divided  state  of  the  troops,  renders  our  defence  very  pre- 
carious, and  the  duty  of  defending  long  and  extensive  lines  in  so  many 
different  places,  without  proper  conveniences  and  cover,  so  very  fatigu- 
ing, that  the  troops  had  become  dispirited  by  their  incessant  duty  and 
watching. 

8th.  Because  the  enemy  had  sent  several  ships  of  war  into  the 
Sound,  to  a  place  called  Flushing  Bay  ;  and,  from  the  information  re- 
ceived that  a  part  of  their  troops  was  moving  across  Long  Island  that 
way,  there  was  reason  to  apprehend  they  meant  to  pass  over  land,  and 
form  an  encampment  above  Kingsbridge,  in  order  to  cut  off  and  prevent 
all  communication  between  our  army  and  the  country  beyond  them,  or 
to  get  in  our  rear. 

826.  "  By  ten  o'clock  the  troops  began  to  retire  from  the  lines,  so 
that  no  chasm  was  made  ;  but  as  one  regiment  left  their  station  or 
guard,  the  remaining  troops  moved  to  the  right  and  left,  and  filled  up  the 
vacancies,  while  Washington  took  his  station  at  the  ferry  and  super- 
intended the  embarkation.  As  the  dawn  approached,  those  of  us  who 
remained  in  the  trenches  became  very  anxious  for  our  safety,  at  which 
time  there  were  several  regiments  still  on  duty,  and  a  dense  fog  began 
to  rise,  and  seemed  to  settle  over  both  encampments  ;  so  dense  was  the 
atmosphere,  that  a  man  could  not  be  discerned  six  yards  off.  When 
the  sun  rose  we  had  orders  to  leave  the  lines,  but  before  we  reached 
the  ferry  the  regiment  was  ordered  back  again.  Col.  Chester  faced 
about  and  returned  to  the  lines,  where  the  regiment  tarried  till  the  sun 
had  risen,  but  the  fog  remained  as  dense  as  ever.  Finally  a  second  or- 
der came,  and  we  joyfully  bid  those  trenches  a  long  adieu.  When  we 
reached  Brooklyn  ferry  the  boats  had  not  yet  returned  from  their  last 


BATTLE    OF    LONG    ISLAND.  163 

trip,  but  they  soon  appeared.  I  think  I  saw  Gen.  Washington  on  the 
ferry  stairs  when  I  stepped  into  one  of  the  last  boats.  I  left  my  horse 
at  the  ferry,  tied  to  a  post.  The  troops  having  all  safely  reached  N. 
Y.,  and  the  fog  continuing  thick  as  ever,  I  got  leave  to  return  with  a 
crew  of  volunteers  for  my  favorite  horse.  I  had  got  off  with  him  some 
distance  into  the  river  before  the  enemy  appeared  in  Brooklyn.  As 
soon  as  they  reached  the  ferry  we  were  saluted  merrily  from  their  mus- 
ketry, and  finally  by  their  field-pieces.  When  the  enemy  had  taken 
possession  of  the  heights  opposite  the  city  of  N.  Y.,  they  commenced 
firing  from  the  artillery,  and  the  fleet  pretty  soon  were  in  motion  to 
take  possession  of  those  waters." 

Col.  Tallmadge,  as  quoted  by  Simms. 
The  guns  of  Fort  Stirling  were  unspiked  and  turned  on  the  boats  of 
the  retreating  Americans.     Three  persons  who  left  the  Island  last  in  a 
batteau,  fell  into  the  enemy's  hands.  N.  E.  Chronicle. 

Col.  Handles  Account  of  the  Eetreat. 
827.  In  the  evening  of  the  29th  of  August,  1776,  with  several  other 
commanding  officers  of  corps,  I  received  orders  to  attend  Major  Gen. 
Mifflin :  when  assembled,  Gen.  Mifflin  informed  us  that  in  conse- 
quence of  the  determination  of  a  board  of  General  officers,  the  evacua- 
tion of  Long  Island,  where  we  then  were,  was  to  be  attempted  that 
night ;  that  the  Commander-in-chief  had  honored  him  with  the  com- 
mand of  the  covering^arty,  and  that  our  corps  were  to  be  employed  in 
that  service  ;  he  then  assigned  us  our  several  stations  which  we  were 
to  occupy  as  soon  as  it  was  dark,  and  pointed  out  Brooklyn  Church  as 
an  alarm  post,  to  which  the  whole  were  to  repair  and  unitedly  op- 
pose the  enemy  in  case  they  discovered  our  movements  and  made  an 
attack  in  consequence.  My  regiment  was  posted  in  a  redoubt  on  the 
left,  and  in  the  lines  on  the  right  of  the  great  road  below  Brooklyn 
Church  ;  Capt.  Henry  Miller  commanded  in  the  redoubt.  Part  of  a  re- 
giment of  the  flying  camp  of  the  State  of  Nevr- York,  were  in  the  begin- 
ning of  the  night  posted  near  me  ;  they  showed  so  much  uneasiness  at 
their  station,  that  I  petitioned  General  Mifflin  to  suffer  them  to  march 
off",  lest  they  might  communicate  the  panic  with  which  they  were  seized 
to  my  people  ;  the  General  granted  my  request,  and  they  marched  off" 
accordingly.  After  that  nothing  remarkable  happened  at  my  post  till 
about  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  when  Alexander  Scammell,  since  Ad- 
jutant General,  who  that  day  acted  as  A.  D.  C.  to  the  Commander-in- 
chief,  came  from  the  left  inquiring  for  Gen'l  Mifflin,  who  happened  to 
be  with  me  at  the  time.     Scammell  told  him  that  the  boats  were  wait- 


164  LETTERS  RELATING  TO  THE 

ing,  and  the  Commander-in-chief  anxious  for  the  arrival  of  the  troops 
at  the  ferry.  Gen'i  Mifflin  said  he  thought  he  must  be  mistaken,  that 
he  did  not  imagine  the  General  could  mean  the  troops  he  immediately 
commanded.  Scammell  replied  he  was  not  mistaken  ;  adding  that  he 
came  from  the  extreme  left,  and  had  ordered  all  the  troops  he  had  met 
to  march  ;  that  in  consequence  they  were  then  in  motion,  and  that  he 
would  go  on  to  give  the  same  orders.  Gen.  Mifflin  then  ordered  me 
to  call  in  my  advanced  pickets  and  sentinels,  to  collect  and  form  my  re- 
giment, and  to  march  as  soon  as  possible,  and  quitted  me.  Having 
marched  into  the  great  road  leading  to  the  church,  I  fell  in  with  the 
troops  returning  from  the  left  of  the  lines  ;  having  arrived  at  the  church 
I  hailed  to  take  up  my  camp  equipage  which,  in  the  course  of  the  night, 
I  had  carried  there  by  a  small  party.  Gen'l  Mifflin  came  up  at  the  in- 
stant and  asked  the  reason  of  the  halt?  I  told  him,  and  he  seemed 
very  much  displeased,  and  exclaimed  :  "  Damn  your  pots  and  kettles,  I 
wish  the  devil  had  them  :  march  on  !"  I  obeyed,  but  had  not  gone  far 
before  I  perceived  the  front  had  halted,  and  hastening  to  inquire  the 
cause,  I  met  the  Commander-in-chief,  who  perceived  me,  and  said,  is  not 
that  Col.  Hand  ?  I  answered  in  the  affirmative.  His  Excellency  said 
he  was  surprised  at  me  in  particular  ;  that  he  did  not  expect  I  would  have 
abandoned  my  post.  I  answered  that  I  had  not  abandoned  it — that  I 
had  marched  by  order  of  my  immediate  commanding  officer  ;  he  said  it 
was  impossible.  I  told  him  I  hoped  if  I  could  satisfy  him  I  had  the  or- 
ders of  Gen'l  Mifflin,  he  would  not  think  me  particularly  to  blame  ;  he 
said  he  undoubtedly  would  not.  Gen'l  Mifflin  then  coming  up,  and 
asking  what  the  matter  was,  his  Excellency  said,  "  Good  God  !  Gen'l 
Mifflin,  I  am  afraid  you  have  ruined  us  by  so  unseasonably  withdraw- 
ing the  troops  from  the  lines."  Gen'l  Mifflin  replied  with  some  warmth, 
"  I  did  it  by  your  order."  His  Excellency  declared  it  could  not  be  ; 
Gen'l  Mifflin  swore  by  God,  "  I  did,"  and  asked  "  did  Scammell  act  as 
an  A.  D.  C.  for  the  day,  or  did  he  not  V  his  Excellency  acknowledged 
he  did.  •*  Then,"  said  Mifflin,  "  I  had  orders  through  him."  The 
Gen'l  replied  it  was  a  dreadful  mistake,  and  informed  him  that  matters 
were  in  much  confusion  at  the  ferry,  and  unless  we  could  resume  our 
posts  before  the  enemy  discovered  we  had  left  them,  in  all  probability 
the  most  disag^reeabie  consequences  would  follow.  We  immediately 
returned,  and  had  the  good  fortune  to  recover  our  former  stations  and 
keep  them  for  some  hours  longer,  without  the  enemy  perceiving  what 
was  going  forward. 


BATTLE    OF    LONG    ISLAND.  165 

828.  British  Account  of  the  Lines  and  Retreat. 

The  lines  could  not  be  taken  by  assault ;  but  by  approaches.  We 
had  no  fascines  to  fill  ditches,  no  axes  to  cut  abatis,  and  no  scaling 
ladders  to  assault  so  respectable  a  work.  The  lines  were  a  mile  and  a 
half  in  extent,  including  angles,  cannon-proof,  with  a  chain  of  five  re- 
doubts, or  rather  fortresses  with  ditches,  as  had  the  lines  that  formed 
the  intervals  ;  the  whole  surmounted  with  a  most  formidable  abatis, 
finished  in  every  part.  A  corporal  and  six  men  had  a  difficulty  in  get- 
ting through  the  abatis.  They  were  reconnoitering  before  daybreak,  and 
at  4  o'clock  discovered  the  lines  were  evacuated.  The  pickets  marched 
25  minutes  after.  General  Robertson  heard  of  the  retreat  at  7  o'clock, 
and  his  brigade  was  ordered  to  march  at  8,  but  while  marching  to  the 
ferry  he  was  ordered  toward  Hellgate  to  meet  Lee,  reported  to  be  land- 
ing there  with  an  army.  We  were  on  the  rear  of  the  enemy  ;  some 
were  killed  or  taken  prisoners  in  Brookljoi.  We  saw  three  or  four  boats 
afloat — some  boats  not  oflT.  The  debris  of  their  rear  guard  embarked 
about  8  or  9  o'clock.  The  Americans  fired  grape  from  their  32  pound- 
ers in  the  city  and  at  the  ship  yards,  850  yards  off.  Their  retreat  was 
secured  by  forts  on  Brooklyn  heights  and  floating  batteries  in  the  river. 
No  boat  could  be  stationed  so  as  to  see  the  passing  at  Brooklyn  ferry 
without  exposure  to  the  American  batteries. 

Farliamentary  Register,  Vol.  13. 


PART  III. 

SUBMISSION    OP    KINGS    COUNTY. 

829.  Thus  the  people  of  Kings  County,  after  a  few  had 
been  persuaded  or  forced  into  rebellion,  were  abandoned  by 
their  countrymen  to  all  its  penalties.  Accordingly  they  lost 
no  time  in  seeking  to  make  their  peace  with  the  King's  Com- 
missioners. 

To  the  RIGHT  HONORABLE  RICHARD,  LORD 
VISCOUNT  HOWE,  of  the  Kingdom  of  Ireland,  and 
his  EXCELLENCY  WM.  HOWE,  Esquire,  General 
of  His  Majesty^s  forces  in  America,  the  King^s  Commis- 
sioners  for  restoring  'peace  to  His  Majesty^s  Colonies  in 
North  America. 

Your  Excellencies  by  your  Declaration  bearing  dale 
July  14,  '76,  were  pleased  to  signify  that  "  the  King  is  de- 
sirous to  deliver  his  American  subjects  from  the  calamities 
of  war,  and  other  oppressions  which  tliey  now  undergo  ; 
and  to  restore  the  Colonies  to  his  protection  and  peace;" 
and,  by  a  subsequent  Declaration,  dated  Sep.  19,  '76,  having 
also  been  pleased  to  express  your  desire  "  to  confer  with  His 
Majesty's  well-affected  subjects,  upon  the  means  of  restoring 
the  public  tranquillity,  and  establishing  a  permanent  union 
with  every  colony  as  part  of  the  British  Empire  ;"  we  there- 
fore, whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  lYeeholdcrs  and 
inhabitants  of  Kings  County,  in  the  Province  of  New-York, 
reflecting  with  the  tenderest  emotions  of  gratitude  on  this  in- 


SUBMISSION    OF    KINGS   COUNTY. 


167 


stance  of  His  Majesty's  paternal  goodness,  and  encouraged 
by  the  affectionate  manner  in  which  His  Majesty's  gracious 
purpose  hath  been  conveyed  to  us  by  your  Excellencies,  who 
have  thereby  evinced,  that  humanity  is  inseparable  from  that 
true  magnanimity  and  those  enlarged  sentiments  which  form 
the  most  shining  characters,  beg  leave  to  represent  to  your 
Excellencies, 

That  we  bear  true  allegiance  to  our  rightful  sovereign, 
Geo.  the  Third,  as  well  as  warm  affection  to  his  sacred  per- 
son, crown,  and  dignity ;  to  testify  which,  we,  and  each  of 
us,  have  voluntarily  taken  an  oath  [in  the  church  at  Flat- 
bush]  before  Wm.  Axtell,  Esq.,  one  of  His  Majesty's 
Council  for  this  Province,  in  the  following  words,  viz : 

/  do  sincerely  promise  and  swear,  that  I  will  he  faithful 
and  hear  true  allegiance  to  His  Majesty,  King  Geo.  the 
Third,  and  that  I  will  defend  his  crown  and  dignity,  against 
all  persons  whatsoever.     So  help  me  God. 

That  we  esteem  the  constitutional  supremacy  of  Great 
Britain  over  these  Colonies  and  other  depending  parts  of  His 
Majesty's  dominions,  as  essential  to  the  union,  security,  and 
welfare  of  the  whole  empire  ;  and  sincerely  lament  the  in- 
terruption of  that  harmony  which  formerly  subsisted  between 
the  parent  State  and  these  her  Colonies-  We,  therefore, 
humbly  pray  that  your  Excellencies  would  be  pleased 
to  restore  this  County  to  His  Majesty's  protection  and 
peace, 

Nov.,  1776. 
Rem  Adriance,  Evert  Banker,  jr.  Cor's  Bennet, 

Wm.  Barre,  Wm.  Bennet,  Ji, 

Chas.  Barre,  Jere'h  Bennett, 

John  Beenem,  Wineant  Bennet, 

Jas.  Bennet,  Jacob  Bennet, 

Peter  Bennet,  Lucas  Benberg, 

John  Bennet,  Moses  Beedle, 

Jan  Bennett,  Ded'rick  Bergen, 

Simon  Bergen,  2, 


Rob't  Aitkins,  2, 

Petrus  Amberman, 

Harman  Ando  ? 

John  Antonides, 

Peter  Antonides, 

Vincentius  Antonides 

Wm.  Axtell, 

LodowickBamper,N.Y.  Ab'm  Bennet,  2, 


168 


SUBMISSION    OF    KINGS   COUNTY. 


Teunis  Bergen, 
Johannes  Bergen, 
Michael  Bergen, 
Thos.  Betts,  2, 
Cor's  Bise, 
John  Blake, 
Nich'3  Blom, 
Gerret  Boerum, 
Ferdinand  Berou? 
Jacob  Boerum, 
Johannes  Boerum, 
John  Boerum, 
Ab'm  Bogart,  2, 
Cor's  Bogert, 
Gisbert  Bogert, 
John  Boyce, 
Dan'l^Boyel, 
Jaques  Borkeloo, 
Jan  Booryes, 
Martin  Brevoort, 
Harmanus  Burkuloo, 
Cor's  Buys, 
Dan'l  Buys, 
John  Buys, 
Thos.  Colange, 
George  Carpenter, 
Martinus  Carshovv, 
Jacob  Gushow, 
Wm.  Chardavoyne, 
John  M'Clenachan, 
Joseph  Compton, 
Andries  Conselye, 
John  Conselje, 
Gabriel  Cook,  2, 
Jacobus  Cornell, 
Peter  Cornell,  2, 
Wm.  Cornell, 
Isaac  Cornell, 
John  Cornell, 
VVhit'd  Cornell, 


Peter  Cortelyou, 
Jaques  Cortelyou, 
John  Covert,  3, 
Rich'd  Covert, 
Jeremiah  Covert, 
Jacob  Cosyn, 
Cor's  Cozine, 
John  Cowwenhoven, 
John  R.  Cowenhoven, 
Jas.  Cowenhoven, 
Nich.  Covenhoven, 
Rem  Conwenhoven, 
John  Crawley, 
Casper  Crisper, 
Harmon  Crispeer, 
Andrew  Crispeer, 
Johannes  Debevoise, 
John  Debevoise, 
Chas.  Debevoise,  2, 
Jacobus  Debevoice, 
Sam'l  Debevoise, 
Geo.  Debevois, 
Joost  Debevoise, 
Ab'm  Deforest, 
Johannes  Degraf, 
John  Demott, 
Is.  Denyse, 
Denyse  Denyse, 
Rutgers  Denyse, 
Fred'k  Depeyster, 
John  Devoe,  2, 
John  Ditmars, 
Johannes  Ditmars,  3, 
John  J.  Ditmars, 
Gab'l  Duryee,  2, 
Ab'm  Duryee,  2, 
Charles  Duryee, 
Johannes  Duryea, 
Jacob  Duryea, 
Simon  Duryee, 


Charles  T.  Duryee, 
Cor's  Duryee, 
Peter  Duryee,  2, 
Christian  Duryee, 
Isaac  Eldert, 
Johannes  Eldert, 
Thos.  Elsworth, 
John  Emens, 
Jacobus  Emens,  2, 
Ab'm  Emans,2, 
Thos.  Everit, 
John  Foorhest, 
Colen  Folkertson, 
Wm.  Furman, 
Robert  Galbreath, 
John  Gavel, 
Samuel  Garrison, 
Sam'l  Gerresen, 
Jacobus  Golden, 
Geo.  Gosling, 
John  Hallet, 
Rob't  Ilargrave,  n.  y. 
John  Harris, 
Fred'k  Hatfield, 
Adrian  Hegeman,  2, 
John  Hegeman,  2, 
Peter  Hegeman,  2, 
Jacobus  Hegeman, 
Jas.  Hegeman, 
Evert  Hegeman, 
Petrus  Hegeman, 
Jos.  Hegeman, 
Ab'm  Hegeman, 
Rem  Hegeman, 
Dennis  Hegeman, 
Stephen  Herriman, 
Israel  Horsefield, 
Thos.  Horsefield, 
C.  Wm.  Howard, 
Jos.  Howard, 


SUBMISSION    OF    KINGS    COUNTY. 


169 


Jacob  Hicks, 

Sam'l  Hubbard, 

Bamardus  Hubbard, 

Elias  Hubbard,  2, 

Jas.  Hubbard, 

John  Hulst, 

William  Johnson, 

John  Johnson, 

Hend'k  Johnson, 

Coert  Johnson, 
Fornant  Johnson, 
Barent  Johnson,  3, 
Dan'l  Jones, 
Jacob  Kershow, 
Tunis  Kershow, 
Wm.  Kowenhoven, 
Peter  Kowwenhoven, 
Gerret  Kowenhoven, 
Court  Lake, 
Derick  Lake, 
Dan'l  Lake, 
Leffert  Lefferts,  2, 
Hend'k  Lefferts, 
Jacob  Lefferts, 
Barent  Lefferts, 
Nich's  Lefferts, 
Jan  Lequier, 
Ab'm  Luquer, 
John  Lewis, 
RoeioffLott, 
Engelbert  Lott,  2, 
Johannes  Lott,  2, 
Petrus  Lott, 
Dennis  H.  Lott, 
Johannes  E.  Lott, 
John  Lott, 
Hend'k  Lott, 
Christopher  Lott, 
Simon  Lott, 
Jeromua  Lott, 


Jurrien  Lott, 
Maurice  Lott,  2, 
John  McClenachan, 
Gerret  Martense,  2, 
Adrian  Martense, 
Jores  Martense,  2, 
Leffert  Martense, 
Isaac  Martense, 
Leonard  May, 
Jacob  Meserole, 
John  Milber, 
Garret  Middagh, 
John  Middagh, 
David  Molenaor, 
Geo.  Moore, 
Ab'm  Murff, 
John  Murphe, 
Petrus  Muerenbeldt, 
John  Myford, 
Philip  Nagel, 
Peter  Neefus, 
Petrus  Neefus, 
John  Nostrand, 
Garret  Noorstrandt, 
John  Oake, 
Hend'k  Oake, 
Thos.  Pearsall, 
Wm.  Plowman, 
Theod's  Poihemus,  2, 
Ab'm  Poihemus, 
John  Poihemus, 
Jotham  Post, 
Thos.  Powels, 
Peter  Praa  Provoost, 
John  Rapalje,jr. 
Dan'l  Rapalje, 
Geo.  Rapalje, 
Tennis  Rapalje, 
Folkert  Rapalje, 
Jores  Rapalje, 


Johannes  Remsen, 
John  A.  Remsen, 
Ab'm  Remsen, 
Wm.  Remsen, 
Geo.  Remsen, 
Derick  Remsen,  2, 
Aris  Remsen, 
Jacob  Remsen,  2, 
Jeromus  Remsen, 
Rem  A.  Remsen, 
Joris  Remsen,  2, 
Rem  Remsen, 
Marten  Reyers, 
Jos.  Reyers, 
Edw'd  Reynolds, 
John  Casp.  R.ubel,v.D.M. 
Barnardus  Ryder, 
Lawrence  Ryder, 
Sam'l  Ryder, 
Stephen  Ryder, 
Wilhelmus  Ryder, 
Jacob  Ryerson, 
John  Ryerson,  2, 
Hend'k  Schenck, 
Stephen  Schenck, 
Nich's  Schenck, 
Martin  Schenck,  2, 
Stephen  Schenck, 
John  Schenck,  2, 
Jan  Schenck, 
Caleb  Scofield, 
Benj.  Seaman, 
Chas.  Semper, 
Isaac  Selover, 
Jacob  Sickels, 
Hend'k  SickelSj 
Dan'l  Simonsen, 
Fred'k  Simonson, 
Evert  Shareman, 
John  Skillman, 


170 


SUBMISSION    OF    KINGS    COUNTY. 


Thos.  Skillman, 
John  Smith, 
Lewis  Sness, 
Isaac  Snedeker,  2, 
Ab'm  Snedeker, 
Johannes  Snedeker, 
Jacob  Snedeker, 
David  Sprong,  2, 
Stephen  Sprong, 
Gabriel  Sprong, 
Wm.  Sprong, 
Volkert  Sprong,  jr. 
Jacob  Stellenwerf, 
John  Stewart, 
Nich's  Stillwell,jr.  2, 
Thos.  Stillwell,  2, 
Joost  Stilwell, 
Rutgert  Stillwell, 
Rich.  Stillwell,  2, 
Christ'r  Stillwell, 
Peter  Stoothoff, 
Garret  Stoothoff, 
Johannes  Stoothoff, 
Wilhelmus  Stoothoff, 
Albert  Stoothoff, 
And.  Stockholm, 
Garret  Stryker,  2, 
Sam'l  Strycker, 
John  Stryker, 
Michael  Stryker, 
Cornelius  Strycker, 
Jacobus  Suydam, 
Ilend'k  Suydam,  4, 
John  Suydam,  3, 
Lambert  Suydam, 
Vernandt  Suydam, 
Hend'k  H.  Suydam, 
Andrew  Suydam, 
Evert  Suydam, 
Tunfi  Suydam, 


Fernandus  Suydam, 
Jacob  Suydam, 
Sam'l  Sullen, 
Albert  Terhune, 
Roeloff  Terhune, 
Chas,  Titus, 
David  Titus, 
Frans  Titus, 
Tetus  Titus, 
Teunis  Tiebout, 
Henry  Van  Beuren, 
Isaac  Van  Brunt, 
Albert  Van  Brunt, 
Adrian  Van  Brunt, 
Wm.  Van  Brunt, 
Rutgert  Van  Brunt,  4, 
Cor's  Van  Brunt, 
Cort  Van  Brunt, 
Jan  Van  Duyn, 
Cor's  Van  Duyn,  3, 
Jan  Van  Dyne, 
John  Vandyck, 
Wm.  VanDyck,  2, 
3,  Hend'k  Van  Cleef, 
John  Van  Cleef,  2, 
David  Van  Cott,  2, 
Aert  Van  Pelt, 
Wynant  Van  Pelt, 
Johannes  Van  Pelt, 
Peter  Van  Pelt,  2, 
Rem  Van  Pelt,  2, 
Jacob  Van  Nuys, 
Wilhelmus  Van  Nuys, 
Joost  Van  Nuys, 
Ulpianus  Van  Sinderen, 
U.  Van  Sinderen,  v.d.m. 
Cor's  Van  Sice, 
Garret  Van  Sise, 
Chas.  Van  Sice, 
John  Van  Siclen, 


Vernant  Van  Sickel, 
Fernandes  Van  Siclen, 
Johannes  Van  Sicklen, 
Jeremias  Vanderbilt, 
John  Vanderbilt,  2, 
Rem  Vanderbilt, 
Peter  Vanderbilt,  2, 
Wm.  Vandervoort, 
Paul  Vandervoort, 
Jan  Vandervoort, 
John  Vandervoort, 
Michael  Vandervoort^ 2, 
Lamb't  Vandervoort, 
John  Vanderveer,  2, 
Hend'k  Vanderveer, 
Cor's  Vanderveer,  jr. 
Jacobus  Vanderveer, 
Gerret  Vandine, 
Mat.  Vandyke, 
Isaac  Vangelder, 
Jacobus  Vandeventer, 
Burger  Vandewater, 
Peter  Vandewater, 
Bernardus  Vandewater, 
John  Van  Varck, 
Cor's  Van  Zinze, 
Niclase  Vegte, 
Jos.  Vonck, 
Adrian  Voorhees, 
Ab'm  Voorhees, 
Lawrence  Voorhees, 
Peter  Voorhees, 
Stephen  Voorhees, 
Robert  Voorhees, 
John  Voorhees, 
Aert  Voorhees, 
Thos.  Whitlock, 
Jos.  White,  2, 
Garret  Williamson, 
Nich's  Williamson, 


SUBMISSION    OF    KINGS   COUNTY. 


171 


Wm.  Williamson, 
Jeremiah  Williamson, 
John  Williamson, 
Peter  Williamson, 
David  Wortman, 


Barent  WyckofF, 
Nich's  WyckofT, 
Peter  Wyckoff,  2, 
Hend'k  WykofF,  2, 
Johannes  Wyckoff, 


Cor's  Wykoff, 
Joost  Wykoff, 
Gerret  Wyckoff, 
John  Youngs, 
Sam'l  Zeller. 


To  His  Excellency  Wm.  Tryon,  Esq.,  Gov.  <^c. 

830.  We,  the  members  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  the  County 
Committee  and  the  Committees  of  the  different  townships  elected 
for  and  by  the  inhabitants  of  Kings  Co.,  feel  the  highest  satisfaction 
in  having  it  in  our  power  to  dissolve  ourselves  without  danger  of  the 
County  being  desolated,  as  it  was  by  repeated  threats,  some  short 
time  ago.  We  do  hereby  accordingly  dissolve  ourselves,  rejecting 
and  disclaiming  all  power  of  Congress  and  Committees,  totally  re- 
fusing obedience  thereto,  and  revoking  all  proceedings  under  them 
whatsoever,  as  being  repugnant  to  the  laws  and  constitution  of  the 
British  Empire,  and  undutiful  to  our  sovereign,  and  ruinous  to  the 
welfare  and  prosperity  of  this  County.  We  beg  leave  to  assure 
your  Excellency  we  shall  be  exceeding  happy  in  obeying  the  legal 
authority  of  government,  whenever  your  Excellency  shall  be  pleased 
to  call  us  forth,  being  from  long  experience  well  assured  of  your 
Excellency's  mild  and  upright  administration. 

Signed,  3d  and  4th  Dec,  1776. 


PhiUp  Nagel, 
Wm.  Johnson, 
Evert  Suydam, 
Rich'd  Stillwell, 
Johannes  E.  Lott, 
Rem  Cowvenhoven, 
Nich's  Cowvenhoven, 
Joost  Duryea, 
Jerem'h  Vanderbilt, 
Stephen  Voorhees, 
Adrian  Voorhies, 
Petrus  Van  Pelt, 
Leffert  Lefferts, 
*Nich's  Grudendyck, 


John  Suydam, 
Wilh's  Stoothoff, 
Casper  Crisper, 
Isaac  Cortelyou, 
Petrus  Lott, 
Denyse  Denyse, 
Engelbert  Lott, 
J.  Hubbard, 
Garret  Wykoff, 
Rich'd  Stillwell,  jr. 
Rutgert  Vanbrunt, 
Adrian  Hegeman, 
*Ab'm  Van  Ranst, 


Ab'm  Laquere, 

Derick  Remsen, 

Ab'm  Voorhies, 

Isaac  Denyce, 

Johannes  Bergen, 

John  Vanderbelt, 

Theodo's  Polhemus, 

Wm.  Vanbrunt, 

Jacobus  Vandeventer, 

John  Titus, 

Cor's  Wykoff, 

Johannes  Debevoice, 
*Wilhelmus  Van  Nuys, 
*Jeremias  Remsen, 


*Albert  Vanbrunt, 
[Those  to  whose  names  a  star  is  prefixed  were  either  sick,  or  out  of 
the  County.] 


PART  IV. 

ARMED    OCCUPATION  OF  KINGS    COUNTY. 

831.  His  Majesty  has  observed  with  great  satisfaction  the  effii- 
Bions  of  loyalty  and  affection  which  break  forth  in  the  addresses  of 
his  faithful  subjects  upon  their  deliverance  from  the  tyranny  and  op- 
pression of  the  rebel  Committees  :  and  the  proof  given  by  tlie  inhabi- 
tants of  Kings  Co.  of  their  zeal  for  the  success  of  His  Majesty's 
measures,  by  so  generously  contributing  toward  the  expense  of  rais- 
ing Col.  Fanning's  battalion,  cannot  fail  of  recommending  them  to 
His  Majesty's  favor.  Lord  Geo.  Germaiiie, 

832.  Jan.  27,  '77,  Gaine.  The  corps  of  miUtia  in  Kings  Co., 
from  motives  of  loyalty  to  their  sovereign,  and  zeal  to  the  consti- 
tution, liave  voluntarily  deposited  in  the  hands  of  the  Hon.  Wm. 
Axtell,  £310.  8.  as  an  addition  to  the  noble  provision  made  to  the 
battalion  now  raising  under  the  command  of  Col.  Fanning,  to  be  ap- 
pointed according  to  the  direction   of  His  Excellency  Gov.  Tryon. 

Gen.  Edmond  Fanning  died  in  London,  1818,  at  an  advanced  age. 
The  world  contained  no  better  man  in  all  the  relations  of  life,  as  friend, 
landlord  and  master.  He  lost  a  large  property  by  raising  a  regiment 
in  the  Revolution.  He  was  appointed  Lt.  Gov.  of  Nova  Scotia,  next 
he  was  Gov.  of  Prince  Edward's  Island  19  years.  He  resigned  from 
ill  heahh,  and  to  attend  to  his  private  affairs,  to  the  grief  of  all.  He  left  a 
widow  and  3  accomplished  daughters.  Gent.  Mag. 

833.  The  wounded  prisoners  taken,  Aug.  27,  were  put  in  the 
churches  of  Flatbush  and  N.  Utrecht,  but  being  neglected  and  unat- 
tended, were  wallowing  in  their  own  filth,  and  breathed  an  infected 
air.  Ten  days  after,  Dr.  Richard  Bailey,  from  the  hospital  on  Staten 
Island,  was  appointed  to  su})crintend  the  sick,  aided  by  Dr.  Silas 


ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF    KINGS    COUNTY.  173 

Holmes,  of  Norwich,  Conn.,  a  prisoner.  Holmes  represents  Bailey 
as  humane,  and  dressing  the  wounded  daily.  He  got  a  sack-bed, 
sheet  and  blanket  for  each  prisoner,  distributed  the  patients  into  the 
adjacent  barns,  without  consent  of  the  owners,  and  allowed  them  to 
go  to  the  neighboring  houses  to  buy  milk.  One  tried  to  escape 
when  Campbell,  Capt.  of  the  guard,  opposed  their  going,  but  gave 
way  to  the  Doctor's  request.  When  the  wounded  were  sent  to  N.  Y., 
Dr.  B.  accompanied  them.  N.  Y.  Indep.  Gaz.,  Dec.  20,  '83. 

834.  [In  Jan.  '77,  the  American  prisoners  in  N.  Y.  were  paroled 
and  billeted  on  the  inhabitants  of  Kings  Co.  Congress  agreeing  to 
pay  $2  per  week  for  their  board.  Col.  Graydon  thus  describes  his 
sojourn  there. — Ed.] 

Flatbush  was  the  place  assigned  for  the  officers  of  our  regiment. 
Col.  Shoe's  and  Col.  Magaw's.  Here  also  were  stationed  Col?. 
Miles,  Atlee,  Raw^lins,  and  Maj.  Williams.  The  indulgence  of  ar- 
ranging ourselves  agreeably  to  our  respective  circles  of  acquaintance 
was  granted  us  by  Mr.  Loring.  Lt.  Forrest  and  myself  were  billeted 
on  Mr.  Jacob  Suydam,  whose  house  was  pretty  large,  consisting  of 
buildings  which  appeared  to  have  been  erected  at  different  times.  The 
front  and  better  part  was  occupied  by  Mr.  Theojjhylact  Bache  and 
family,  from  N.  Y.  Though  we  were  in  general  civilly  enough 
received,  it  cannot  be  supposed  we  were  very  welcome  to  our  Low 
Dutch  hosts,  whose  habits  were  extremely  parsimonious,  and  whose 
winter  provision  was  barely  sufficient  for  themselves.  Had  they 
been  sure  of  receiving  the  $2  per  week,  it  might  have  reconciled 
them.  Congress  or  ourselves  being  looked  on  as  paymasters.  They 
were,  however,  a  people  who  seemed  thoroughly  disposed  to  submit 
to  any  power  that  might  be  imposed  on  them :  and  whatever 
might  have  been  their  propensities  at  an  earlier  stage  of  the  contest, 
they  were  now  the  dutiful  and  loyal  subjects  of  His  Majesty  King 
George  III.  Their  houses  and  beds  we  found  clean ;  but  their  living 
extremely  poor.  A  sorry  wash  made  up  of  a  sprinkling  of  bohea, 
and  the  darkest  sugar  on  the  verge  of  fluidity,  witli  half-baked 
bread  (fuel  being  among  the  scarcest  articles  at  Flatbush)  and  a 
little  stale  butter,  constituted  our  breakfast.  At  our  first  coming,  a 
small  piece  of  pickled  beef  was  occasionally  boiled  for  dinner,  but 
to  tlie  beef  which  was  soon  consumed,  there  succeeded  dippers  or 
clams  ;  and  our  unvaried  supper  was  supon  or  mush,  sometimes  with 


174  ARBIED    OCCUPATION    OF 

skimmed  milk,  but  more  generally  with  buttermilk,  blended  witli 
molasses,  which  was  kept  for  weeks  in  a  churn,  as  swill  is  saved  for 
hogs.  I  found  it,  however,  after  a  little  use,  very  eatable  ;  and  sup- 
per soon  became  my  best  meal.  The  table  company  consisted  of  the 
master  of  the  house,  Mr.  Jacob  Suydam,  an  old  bachelor ;  a  young 
man,  a  shoemaker,  of  the  name  of  Rem  Hegeman,  married  to  Jacob's 
niece,  who  with  a  mewling  infant  in  her  arms,  never  failed  to  ap- 
pear. A  black  boy  too,  was  generally  in  the  room  ;  not  as  a  waiter, 
but  a  sort  of  enfant  de  maison,  who  walked  about  or  took  post  in  the 
chimney  corner  with  his  hat  on,  and  occasionally  joined  in  the  con- 
versation. Rem  Hegeman,  and  Yonicliy  his  wife,  gave  themselves 
no  airs  ;  nor  was  harmony  with  uncle  Jacob  ever  interrupted  ;  but 
once,  when  soured  a  little,  he  made  a  show  of  knocking  down  Mr. 
Forrest,  with  a  pair  of  yarn  stockings  he  had  just  drawn  from  his 
legs,  as  he  sat  in  the  chimney  corner  one  evening  preparing  for  bed  ; 
but  moments  of  peevishness  were  allowable  to  our  host,  for  we  had 
been  consuming  his  provisions,  while  he  had  never  seen  a  penny  of 
our  money.  The  religion  of  the  Dutch,  like  their  other  habits,  was 
unostentatious  and  plain ;  and  a  simple,  silent  grace  before  meat 
prevailed  at  the  table  of  Jacob  Suydam.  When  we  were  all  seated, 
he  suddenly  clapped  his  hands  together,  threw  his  head  on  one  side, 
closed  his  eyes,  and  remained  mute  and  motionless  for  about  a  mi- 
nute. His  niece  and  nephew  followed  his  example,  but  with  such 
an  eager  solicitude  that  the  copied  attitude  should  be  prompt  and 
simultaneous,  as  to  give  an  air  of  absurdity  to  what  might  otherwise 
have  been  very  decent.  Although  little  of  the  vernacular  accent 
remained  on  the  tongues  of  these  people,  they  had  some  peculiarities 
in  their  phraseology.  Instead  of  asking  you  to  sit  down  to  table, 
they  invited  you  to  sit  by. 

The  morning  after  our  arrival  at  Flatbush,  we  encountered  Mr. 
Bache  in  the  piazza,  which  extended  the  whole  length  of  the  build- 
ing on  the  South  side.  His  being  an  Englishman,  and  a  determined 
loyalist,  did  not  prevent  him  from  accosting  us  very  civilly.  He 
knew  that  opposition  to  the  mother  country  was  not  confined  to  a 
low  and  desperate  faction,  as  it  was  the  fashion  among  loyalists  to 
represent  us.  His  brother  was  a  Whig,  and  had  married  Dr.  Frank- 
lin's daughter.  In  addition  to  frequent  invitations  to  tea,  and  to  par- 
tiikc  of  his  Maderia,  "  to  help  us  along  a  little,"  as  he  expressed  it, 


KINGS    COUNTY.  175 

in  allusion  to  the  meagre  fare  of  Jacob's  table,  I  was  indebted  to  him 
for  the  offer  of  his  purse,  though  he  did  not  know  me.  I  declined 
it,  as  I  had  no  need  of  it.  I  availed  myself  of  his  services  in  exe- 
cuting small  commissions  for  me  when  he  went  to  N.  Y.,  which 
was  almost  daily. 

There  were  several  New-Yorkers  with  their  families  residing  in 
Flatbush.  Of  these  Col.  Axtell  was  apparently  the  first  in  wealth  and 
importance.  He  was  neatly  seated  at  a  country  house,  at  the  en- 
trance of  the  village  [since  Dr.  Robinson's]  and  I  had  once  the  honor 
of  supping  with  him,  together  with  8  or  10  of  my  fellow-prisoners. 
In  this  fomily  was  a  Mr,  Frederick  Depeyster,  a  young  man.  better 
known  by  the  fondling  appellation  of  "  Feady,"  and  two  young  ladies, 
all  relations  of  Col.  Axtell.  One  of  these,  a  Miss  Shipton,  had  so 
much  toleration  for  our  cause,  as  to  marry  a  Col.  Giles,  of  our  army. 
Next  in  consequence  to  Col.  Axtell,  might  be  placed  Mayor  Matthews, 
of  N.  Y.,  who  divided  his  time  between  the  village  and  city,  in  each 
of  which  he  had  a  house.  There  were  also  here  Miles  Sherbrook, 
and  Mr.  Jauncey.  Major  Moncricffe,  of  the  British  army,  a  relation 
of  Mr.  Bache,  also  spent  much  time  here,  where  he  had  a  daughter, 
[the  beautiful  Mrs.  Coglan.] 

835.  The  principal  person  in  a  Low  Dutch  village  appears  to  be 
the  Domine  or  minister ;  and  Flatbush,  at  this  time,  revered  her  do- 
mine,  Rubel,  a  rotund,  jolly-looking  man,  a  follower  of  Luther,  and 
a  Tory,  on  whom  were  billeted  Cols.  Atlee  and  Miles.  At  Flatlands, 
there  was  also  a  domine.  Van  Zinder,  a  disciple  of  Calvin,  and  a 
Whig.  He  was  in  person  and  principle  a  perfect  contrast  to  Mr. 
Rubel, being  a  lean  and  shrivelled  little  man,  with  a  triangular  sharp- 
pointed  hat,  and  silver  locks  which  "  streamed  like  a  meteor  flowing 
to  the  troubled  air,"  as  he  whisked  along  with  great  velocity  in  his 
chaise  through  Flatbush.  He  was  distinguished  by  a  species  of 
pulpit  eloquence,  which  might  be  truly  said  to  "  bring  matters  home 
to  men's  business  and  bosoms."  Mr.  Bache  assured  me  that  in  once 
descanting  on  the  wily  arts  of  the  devil,  he  likened  him  to  my  land- 
lord, sneaking  and  skulking  about  to  get  a  shot  at  a  flock  of  snipes, 
in  shooting  of  which,  it  seems,  Jacob  was  eminently  skilful. 

[Van  Sindcrin  and  Rubel  were  both  ministers  of  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church.     An  account  of  them  may  be  found  in  Strong's  Flatbush.    The 


176  ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF 

following  inscriptions  are  taken  from  their  tomb-stones,  which  I  have 
translated  from  Dutch  into  English. 

Hier  leijt  ket  Liechaem  van  den  Wel-Eerioaerde  Heer  Ulpianus 
Van  Sinderen  in  zyn  leeven  Predicant  in  Kings  County,  Overleeden 
den  23  July,  1796,  oudt  Zynde  88  Jaeren,  7  Maanden  en  12  daegen. 

Here  lies  the  body  of  the  very  worthy  Mr.  Ulpianus  Van  Sinderen, 
in  his  lifetime  preacher  in  Kings  County,  died  July  23,  179G,  aged  88 
years,  7  months  and  12  days. 

Tot  gedachtenis  van  Joh's  Casp's  Euhel  V.  D.  M. — Geboren  den  6de 
March,  0.  S.,  1119.— Overleden  den  19de  Maii  1797. 

To  the  memory  of  John  Caspar  Rubel,  minister  of  God's  Word, 
born  March  6th,  1719,  O.  S.,  died  May,  19th,  1191.— Ed.] 

Some  fellows,  one  morning,  on  the  road  to  N.  Y.  market  with 
fish,  were  stopped  by  Capt.  Lenox,  Lt.  Wright,  of  Maryland,  and 
Lt.  Stewart,  of  Delaware,  who  wished  to  buy  some  :  but  were  told 
by  the  fishmongers,  that  they  would  not  sell  to  rebels.  This  pro- 
duced reproachful  language  on  both  sides,  when  the  officers  laying 
hold  of  the  fish,  began  to  bandy  them  about  the  jaws  of  the  raga- 
muffins who  had  insulted  them.  A  complaint  was  immediately 
lodged  with  Gen.  Robertson  :  the  accused  were  escorted  by  a  guard 
to  N.  Y.,  and  on  the  statement  of  the  fishmongers,  being  found  in 
aggression  were  required  to  make  acknowledgments  ;  which  refusing 
to  do,  they  were  forthwith  consigned  to  the  custody  of  the  Provost 
Marshal.  With  him  they  remained  2  or  3  weeks,  but  at  length 
were  released  without  the  apology.  Cunningham  had  used  them 
well,  partly  owing,  perhaps,  to  Gen.  Robertson's  instructions,  and 
partly  to  Mr.  Lenox's  being  well  supplied  with  money. 

There  were  five  of  the  Misses  Van  Homes  (avowed  Whigs, 
notwitstanding  their  civility  to  British  officers),  all  handsome  and 
well  bred,  who  with  their  mother,  a  widow  lady,  had  removed  from 
New  Jersey  to  Flatbush.  JMr.  Clarkson,  a  connection  of  theirs,  at 
whose  house  they  staid  in  Brunswick,  had  a  house  also  at  Flatbush. 
Being  a  Whig,  he  had  left  it  on  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  and  it 
had  been  a  good  deal  injured  by  the  Germans.  He  was  now  per- 
mitted to  return  to  it ;  and  Mrs.  Van  Home  and  her  daughters  came 
along  with  him.  Perhaps  the  way  to  his  return  was  smoothed  by  the 
ladies'  influence  with  the  British  officers.  Miss  Susan  Van  Ilorno 
used  to  walk  the  streets  of  Flatbush  with  a  British  Baronet,  Sir 
John  Wrottesley,  whoso  demeanor  \\<xs  gentlemanly  and  worthy  of 
his  rank. 


KINGS    COUNTY.  177 

Col.  Magaw,*  to  beguile  the  tedious  hours  of  captivity  had 
taken  to  him  a  wife  (Martha,  daughter  of  Col.  R,  Van  Brunt)  as 
had  one  or  two  others.  There  was  a  fatiguing  sameness  in  our  oc- 
cupations, for  wliich  we  had  no  cure.  During  a  residence  of  5 
months  on  L.  I.,  I  was  but  once  beyond  our  limits — and  that  was  to 
dine  at  Jamaica.  [See  Queen's  Co.  p.  155].  At  length  my  mother 
came  from  Penn.  and  boldly  waited  on  Sir  Wm.  Howe.  On  request- 
ing to  speak  with  him  she  was  shown  into  a  parlor,  where  taking  a 
seat,  she  was  meditating  upon  the  manner  of  addressing  him,  when 
Sir  William  entered  the  room.  Rising  she  said,  "  Sir  Wm.  Howe, 
I  presume  !"  He  answered  by  a  bow.  She  then  begged  permission 
for  her  son  to  go  home  on  parole.  "  And  then  to  take  up  arms 
against  us  again,  I  suppose,"  said  Sir  William.  "  By  no  means,  sir, 
I  solicit  his  release  on  parole  ;  that  will  restrain  him  till  exchanged, 
and  if  I  have  any  influence  over  him,  he  shall  never  take  up  arms 
again."  Tiie  General  seemed  to  hesitate,  but  gave  no  answer.  On 
the  renewal  of  her  suit,  he  appeared  by  his  manner  (for  he  was  spar- 
ing of  words)  to  assent.  She  asked,  "  Have  I  your  excellency's 
permission  for  my  son  to  go  home  ?  Bowing,  he  answered,  "  Yes." 
"  May  Col.  Miles  and  Maj.  West,"  added  she,  "  be  permitted  to  go 
also  ?"  "  Now  madam,"  observed  the  General,  "  you  are  making  two 
requests  instead  of  one."  The  boon  was,  however,  extended  to 
Miles  and  West,  who  left  Flatbush,  July,  '77,  escorted  to  the  end  of 
the  village  by  their  less  lucky  fellow  prisoners.  The  boarding  had 
first  to  be  paid,  however,  and  old  Jacob's  heart  was  gladdened  by 
the  sight  of  a  sum  of  money  he  had  despaired  of.  The  prisoners  re- 
paired to  the  office  of  Mr.  Loring,  and  signed  a  parole,  and  then  em- 
barked in  a  sloop  for  Elizabethtown  Point. — GraydorCs  Memoirs. 

*  Col.  Robt.  Magaw,  an  eminent  Attorney,  died  at  Carlisle,  Penn., 
1795. 

836.  Stephen  Rapalje  is  taken  at  New  Rochelle  with  a  large 
quantity  of  cash,  locked  in  saddle-bags,  brought  from  L.  I.,  and  pa- 
roled.    Jan.  23,  '77.  Jour.  784. 

837.  Rom  Covvcnhoven  offers  $15  reward  for  Jaff,  a  runaway 
negro  a  pretty  forward  chap,  had  on  a  claret-colored  coat  and  breeches, 
scarlet  jacket,  supposed  to  be  at  Brunswick  or  Amboy. 

Gaine,Feh.  10, '77. 


178  ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF 

838.  Game,  March  3,  '77.  A  few  days  ago,  S.  Bergen  was 
accidentally  shot  in  the  leg  by  a  musket  he  was  buying  of  a  sailor, 
and  died  from  loss  of  blood. 

839.  Maij  17,  '77.  200  wagons  have  lately  been  sent  from 
L.  I.  to  the  enemy's  head-quarters  at  Brunswick,  to  assist  in  remov- 
ing their  baggage  thence. 

840.  Col.  Ethan  Allen,  at  N.  Lots,  has  recovered  his  health,  but 
will  need  money.  July  27,  '77. 

[Allen  was  billeted  at  Daniel  Rapalje's.  On  hearing  the  news  of  the 
battle  of  Bennington,  he  mounted  on  the  roof  of  Howard's  Inn,  and 
gave  three  cheers,  which  so  exasperated  the  British  officers  present,  that 
he  was  thrown  in  the  Provost.     See  his  Life. — Ed.] 

841.  £3  reward.  Taken  by  force  from  Isaac  Selover,  Flat- 
lands,  a  negro  woman.  Bet.  Gaiiie,  Sep.  22,  '77. 

842.  Died  at  New  Lots,  Oct.  23,  Elbert  Hegeman,  Esq.,  in  the 
91st  year  of  his  age.  Few  men  ever  possessed  a  more  humane  and 
compassionate  heart.  He  was  no  less  remarkable  for  his  piety  than 
his  benevolence,  and  exhibited  to  us  a  remarkable  instance  of  his  at- 
tention to  the  divine  laws  of  his  Creator,  having  read  the  Bible 
through  no  less  than  365  times.  His  remains  were  interred  at  New 
Lots  on  Sunday.  Gaine,  Nov.  8,  '77, 

843.  "  On  Sunday  morning,  April  5,  1778,  to  the  great  satisfac- 
tion of  the  inhabitants,  the  Church  at  Brooklyn  was  opened,  and 
divine  service,  according  to  the  ritual  of  the  Church  of  England, 
performed  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jas.  Sayre,  who  preached  an  excellent 
sermon  and  baptized  a  child,  which  was  the  first  infant  admitted  to 
that  sacrament  within  said  church,  where  there  will  be  prayers  and 
a  sermon  next  Sunday  and  on  Good  Friday,  also  on  the  three  Sun- 
days following  ;  every  fourth  Sunday  afterwards  the  church  will  be 
occupied  by  the  Dutch  congregation." 

844.  N.  J.  Gaz.,  June  17,  '78.  Wm.  Marrener,  a  volunteer, 
with  1 1  men,  and  Lt.  John  Schonck,  of  our  militia,  went  last  Sat. 
evening  from  Middletown  Point,  and  returned  by  6  next  morning, 
(having  travelled  by  land  and  water  above  60  miles)  with  Major 
Moncrieffe,  T.  Bache,  with  4  slaves,  and  brought  them  to  Princeton, 
to  be  delivered  to  the  Governor.     The  worshi})ful  Mayor  and  Tor- 


KINGS    COUNTY.  179 

mentor  General  Matthews,  who  has  inflicted  on  our  prisoners  un- 
heard of  cruelties,  and  was  the  principal  object  of  the  expedition, 
was  unfortunately  in  the  city. 

845.  "  I  chose,"  says  Marrener,  to  Gen.  Johnson,  "  a  fine  after- 
noon about  midsummer,  and  prepared  to  visit  New  Utrecht  about  1 0 
in  the  evening.  This  season  was  chosen,  because  there  was  then 
no  fishing  on  the  beach  at  night.  I  arrived  at  the  beach  near  the 
house  of  my  old  landlord,  Mr.  Vanpelt,  unmolested.  24  of  us  land- 
ed, and  two  were  left  with  the  boat  to  keep  her  from  the  beach. 
We  marched  up  the  road,  and  I  stopped  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Vanpelt, 
and  rapped  at  his  bedroom  window,  and  told  him  I  was  there,  was 
well,  and  intended  to  pay  Col.  Axtell  a  visit  that  night.  With  his 
good  wishes  I  started  along  the  road  to  Flatbush.  We  arrived  at 
the  church  unobserved,  and  divided  into  4  parties,  determined  to 
take  Col.  Axtell,  Mayor  Matthews,  and  Messrs.  Sherbrook  and  Bache. 
Each  party  was  provided  with  a  heavy  post  for  breaking  in  the  doors. 
It  was  agreed,  that  when  the  party  detached  fc^  Col.  Axtell  struck 
his  door,  each  party  should  do  the  same  at  the  'other  houses. 
This  was  done  to  admiration,  and  every  door  yielded  at  the  first 
stroke.  Col.  Axtell  and  Matthews  w^ere  in  N.  Y.,  but  Sherbrook 
and  Bache  were  taken.  Sherbrook  had  often  insulted  me,  and  I 
took  his  lodgings  for  my  share  of  the  capture.  He  resided  at 
Geo.  Martense'sj  and  one  stroke  at  the  door  alarmed  him,  and  he 
fled  to  the  garret.  I  entered  his  room,  found  his  bed  warm,  and 
ordered  aunt  Jannetio  to  get  a  candle.  We  ran  to  the  garret,  and 
found  our  prize  shivering  behind  the  large  Dutch  chimney,  with  his 
breeches  in  hand.  We  took  him  to  the  church,  our  place  of  ren- 
dezvous, where  he  put  on  his  clothes,  and  when  our  men  mustered, 
we  marched  uninterruptedly  along  the  road  to  our  boat,  where  we 
arrived  about  break  of  day,  and  returned  in  safety  to  N.  Brunswick. 
Domine  Rubell  rang  the  bell  before  we  were  half  a  mil?  from  the 
church.  Dr.  Von  Samper,  who  lived  at  Mr.  Martense's,  sung  out, 
'  Goedt  luck!    Goedt  luck!    not  me,  not  me.'" 

L.  L  Star,  June,   1827. 

Marrener,  a  shoemaker,  of  N.  Y.,  in  revenge  for  some  ill-treat- 
ment from  Matthews  (he  had  been  confined  and  cruelly  used  by  him) 
crossed  from  the  Jersey  shore  to  Flatbush,  with  20  militiamen  in 
two  flat-bottom  boats.     At  his  landing  he  left  his  boats  under  guard 


180  ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF 

of  5  men,  while  he  visited  the  interior  ;  but  these  5  hearing  a 
firing^,  which  was  kept  up  on  Marrener  by  the  Flatbush  guards 
while  he  was  taking  his  prisoners,  concluded  he  was  defeated  and 
taken,  so  without  ceremony,  they  took  one  of  the  boats  and  made 
their  escape.  The  other  boat  as  Marrener  reached  the  shore,  was 
just  going  adrift.  The  party  was  much  crowded  in  her,  but  it  was 
fortunately  very  calm,  otherwise  the  boat  could  not  have  weathered 
it.  Marrener's  party  staid  near  two  hours  at  Flatbush,  for  they  were 
there  some  time  before  the  alarm  w^as  taken,  and  there  was  after- 
wards time  to  dispatch  an  express  to  Brooklyn,  and  the  reinforce- 
ment which  came,  was  pretty  close  on  them,  as  it  could  be  seen  on 
shore,  when  the  party  had  left  about  15  minutes.  M.  had  wished 
to  liberate  Capt.  John  Flahaven,  of  N.  J.,  billeted  on  Jacob  Suydam, 
but  as  he  had  changed  his  quarters,  Lt.  Forrest  was  carried  off  in 
his  stead.  Mr.  Bache  was  overwhelmed  with  his  disaster,  on  ac- 
count of  the  consternation  in  which  his  wife  and  daughter  had  been 
thrown  by  the  attac^  on  his  house, and  his  being  forcibly  borne  away 
in  the  dead  of  night.  He  interceded  with  Lt.  Forrest  to  use  his  good 
offices  with  Gov.  Livingston.  Major  Moncrieffe,  like  an  old  soldier, 
submitted  with  more  equal  mind,  reminding  Bache,  however,  that  he 
had  often  told  him  they  were  not  safe  at  Flatbush.  Matthews  was 
on  the  top  of  the  house  at  the  time  of  the  search.  The  men  were 
taken  from  the  landing  to  Princeton  in  wagons,  Bache  and  Mon- 
crieffe were  shortly  sent  home  as  prisoners  on  parole.  A  general 
exchange  soon  after  took  place.  Graijdon. 

Jxiv.  June  17, '78.  Last  Saturday  night  about  11  o'clock,  a  small 
party  of  Rebels  from  Jersey,  landed  at  N.  Utrecht,  and  proceeded  im- 
mediately to  Flatbush,  where  several  gentlemen  of  N.  Y.  have  country 
houses.  They  were  joined  and  led  on  by  a  rebel  officer  named  Forrest, 
on  parole  there,  (who  deserted  with  them,)  and  assisted  by  many  of  the 
rebel  officers  then  on  parole  and  residing  at  Flatbush,  (who,  it  appears, 
had  intelligence  of  their  coming.)  They  divided  themselves  into  3  parties 
and  surrounded  the  houses  of  Major  MoncrielTe,  David  Matthews,  Esq., 
Mayor  of  N.  Y.  city,  and  Theophylact  Bache.  They  found  easy  access 
to  the  houses  of  the  Major  and  Mr.  Bache,  and  surprised  them  both  be- 
fore they  had  the  least  suspicion  of  danger.  They  were  civil  to  the 
Major,  but  at  Mr.  Bache's  behaved  in  their  usual  savage  style,  giving 
Mrs.  B.  several  blows  on  her  entreating  them  not  to  use  her  husband  ill, 
wounding  one  of  the  female  servants  with  their  bayonels,  plundered  the 


KINGS    COUNTY.  181 

house  of  what  plate  they  could  find,  and  dragged  away  Mr.  Bache  with- 
out giving  him  time  to  put  on  his  clothes.  They  were  not  so  success- 
ful at  the  Mayor's,  who  seemed  to  have  been  their  principal  object. 
He  had  taken  care  that  his  doors  and  windows  should  be  well  secured 
and  never  opened  at  night  on  any  pretence,  until  it  was  well  known 
within,  who  were  without.  The  first  tap  at  the  door  (which  was  in  a 
seeming  friendly  manner)  alarmed  the  Mayor,  who  took  such  a  post, 
that  though  they  should  force  in  below,  it  would  require  a  considerable 
time  to  reach  him.  He  at  the  same  time  ordered  one  of  his  blacks  to 
an  upper  window  to  alarm  the  inhabitants.  The  loud  cry  of  murder 
was  the  first  intelligence  the  Rebels  had  of  their  being  suspected,  upon 
which  they  began  a  most  furious  attack  on  the  door  with  the  butts  of 
their  muskets,  and  threatened  destruction  to  the  whole  family  unless  they 
were  let  in.  One  or  two  of  their  muskets  being  broke  and  no  impres- 
sion made  on  the  door,  and  the  alarm  being  still  kept  up  by  the  servant, 
they  attacked  the  windows  which  afforded  room  for  entrance,  when  the 
cry  of  the  servant  awakened  a  negro  of  Chief  Justice  Horsemanden,who 
ran  out  and  fired  a  musket,  which  so  terrified  these  shabby  cordwainers, 
that  they  fled  with  the  greatest  precipitation,  carrying  off  the  Mayor  and 
Mr.  Bache.  Messrs.  Miles  Sherbrooke  and  Aug.  Van  Cortlandt  were 
also  to  have  been  taken  off',  had  they  not  been  alarmed  by  the  Ethiopi- 
an's fire.  Immediately  on  the  intelligence  being  received  at  Brooklyn, 
where  Col.  Cockburn  commanded,  Capt.  Drew  with  a  detachment  from 
the  35ih  Regiment,  marched  to  Flatbush,  but  the  wonted  speed  of  the 
Rebels  saved  them  to  fight  another  day, 

846.  It  was  deemed  impossible  for  Marrener  to  march  to  Flat- 
bush  unobserved  by  the  people.  Therefore  those  who  knew  or  had 
seen  the  party,  were  guilty  of  treason,  for  net  giving  the  alarm. 
Col.  Van  Brunt,  his  brother  Adrian,  Rem  Van  Pelt  and  his  brother 
Aert,  all  of  N.  Utrecht,  were  taken  up  on  suspicion  and  confined 
separately  in  the  Provost.  Col.  Van  Brunt,  when  arrested,  had  the 
precaution  to  provide  himself  with  a  purse  of  gold,  and  inquired  of 
the  sergeant  of  the  Provost  if  he  could  furnish  him  good  provisions 
for  breakfast,  dinner,  and  supper.  The  sergeant  said  yes,  but  Cun- 
ningham must  not  know  it.  He  received  a  guinea,  and  sent  the 
fare  by  his  wife.  The  Col.  gave  her  also  a  guinea  to  provide  food 
for  his  fellow  prisoners  and  inquire  how  they  fared.  The  woman 
returned  and  said  they  were  fearful  and  sad.  The  Col.  begged  of 
the  sergeant,  an  opportunity  of  seeing  his  neighbors  privately.  They 

9 


182  ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF 

were  brought  in  about  midnight,  and  agreed  to  deny  all  knowledge 
of  the  affair.  At  last  they  were  examined  separately,  and  as  they  all 
agreed  in  their  story,  and  nothing  appeared  against  them,  were  dis- 
charged. The  purse  of  gold  held  out,  the  sergeant  was  liberally 
rewarded  for  his  kindness,  and  his  wife  received  an  additional  guinea 
for  her  importunities  with  her  husband  in  favor  of  the  prisoners. 

L.  L  Star,  June  27,  1827. 
Letter  from  L.  I.,  dated  June  17.  Riv.,  June  20,  '78. 
"  Yesterday,  three  of  Capt.  Kinlock's  troop,  with  a  guide,  set  out 
from  the  Ferry,  about  11  o'clock,  and  going  round  the  county,  to  prevent 
an  alarm,  arrived  at  old  Van  Pelt's,  when  without  seeming  to  have  any 
thing  to  do  there,  one  of  the  light  horse  stopped  and  asked  for  a  drink 
of  water,  and  desired  Van  Pelt  to  walk  out  with  him  as  his  prisoner. 
The  party  then  proceeded  without  suspicion  to  young  Van  Pelt's,  and 
took  him  to  his  father's,  and  having  allowed  them  to  do  what  was  re- 
quisite, went  to  J.  Covenhoven's,  Lieut,  of  militia.  (The  officer  to  pre- 
vent suspicion  ordered  his  party  a  contrary  road,  and  went  to  the  house 
and  made  the  Lieut,  prisoner).  Had  he  known  the  party  was  coming, 
he  would  have  retired  to  his  nest  in  the  woods,  as  he  has  often  done 
before,  when  suspicious  that  his  presence  might  be  needed  in  N.  Y, 
The  officer  then  gave  his  men  a  little  refreshment,  and  having  comforted 
the  different  families  as  well  as  he  could,  came  with  them  to  N.  Y., 
when  the  3  were  ordered  to  the  Provost,  and  on  the  road  to  it,  he  de- 
sired them  to  have  whatever  they  wanted,  and  stopped  with  them  while 
they  refreshed  themselves." 

847.  Wanted  immediately  50  horses,  15  hands  high,  fit  for  the 
dragoon  service,  by  Jacob  Wykoff,  Ass.  Com.  of  Horse,  Brooklyn 
Ferry.  Riv.,  June  18,  '78. 

848.  Riv.  July  8,  '78.  Peter  Witherspoon  notifies  the  public 
that  he  intends  to  teach  a  small  number  of  Greek  and  Latin  scholars, 
not  exceeding  6  or  8,  at  Bushwick.  Education  and  board  on  rea- 
sonable terms.     Due  attention  paid  to  education  and  morals. 

849.  £4  above  the  usual  bounty,  a  new  suit  of  clothes,  and 
every  other  necessary  to  complete  the  gentleman  soldier,  given  to  all 
willing  to  serve  His  Majesty  (during  the  present  wanton  and  unnat- 
ural rebellion)  in  the  Roman  Catholic  volunteers.  Major  John  Lynch, 
encamped  at  Yellow  Hook.  Present  pay  and  good  quarters.  One 
guinea  to  bringers.  God  save  the  King  I  Gaine,  July  13,  '78. 


KINGS   COUNTY.  183 

850.  $6  Reward.  Stolen  from  Lt.  Cuppaidge,  26th  Reg.,  at  the 
camp,  Flatlands,  by  a  person  clothed  in  artillery  uniform,  a  horse  with 
hogged  mane,  &c.  Riv..^  July  18,  '78. 

851.  Riv.^  July  30,  '78.  $5  Reward.  Ran  away  from  Jacobus 
Cornell,  New  Lots,  a  negro  man  Hector,  who  speaks  English  and 
Dutch. 

Capt  Stevens,  of  the  Penn.  Loyalists  at  Yellow  Hook,  offers  2 
guineas  reward  for  a  mare  strayed  from  pasture. 

Riv.,  Aug.  8,  '78. 

852.  Capt.  Douglass  offers  a  reward  for  a  dark  bay  gelding, 
branded  S,  on  each  shoulder,  which  strayed  from  the  encampment  of 
1st  bat.  light  infantry,  between  Bedford  and  Bushwick. 

Riv.,  Aug.  15,  '78. 

Jacob  Mowat  offers  3  guineas  reward  for  a  silver  watch  stolen 
from  the  encampment  of  44th  Reg,,  at  Bedford. 

Riv.,  Aug.  19,  '78. 

853.  Riv.^  Aug.  22,  '78.  A.  Bainbridge,  at  Flatbush,  surgeon 
of  New  Jersey  volunteers,  offers  2  guineas  reward  for  a  runaway 
mulatto  negro  boy,  Priam,  hair  light  colored  and  of  the  woolly  kind. 

854.  2  Guineas  Reward.  Stolen  or  strayed  from  Bedford  camp, 
Aug.  15,  a  mare,  D.  37th,  marked  on  her  buttock. 

Riv.,  Sep.  23,  '78. 

855.  Capt.  Benson,  at  the  Ferry,  offers  2  guineas  reward  for  a 
bay  colt,  lost  from  the  camp  near  Brooklyn.       Gaine,  Oct.  5,  '78. 

85G.  20  Guineas  Reward.  Stolen  out  of  an  officer's  tent,  46th 
Reg.,  in  camp,  near  Bedford,  a  large  portmanteau,  containing  clothes, 
maps,  sketches,  paints,  mathematical  instruments,  spy-glass,  compass, 
&c.  Riv.,  Oct.  7,  '78. 

857.  Half  Guinea  Reward.  Lost  from  the  encampment  of  37th 
Reg.,  at  Bedford,  5  weeks  ago,  a  little  bitch,  Lt.  Teasdale  Cockell, 
engraved  on  her  collar.  It  is  supposed  the  departure  of  the  Regi- 
ment for  the  New  England  expedition  was  the  cause  of  her  not 
being  delivered  up,  since  which  time  they  have  never  been  at  the  old 
encampment.  She  was  seen  in  possession  of  a  soldier  of  Col.  Mor- 
ris's corps.  Riv.,  Oct.  7,  '78. 


184  ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF 

858.  Col.  Axtell  offers  a  reward  of  £10  for  the  discovery  of  the 
person  that  took  down  on  Wednesday  evening  last,  from  the  church 
door,  at  Flatbush,  (fixed  there  by  his  direction,  for  the  inspection  of 
the  public,)  the  Manifesto  and  Proclamation,  issued  by  their 
Excellencies  His  Majesty's  Commissioners.         Riv.^  Oct.  10,  '78. 

Wm.  Axtell  died  in  England,  1795,  aged  75,  respected  for  his  hos- 
pitality and  good  humor.  He  was  born  in  Jamaica,  W.  I.,  but  resided 
many  years  in  N.  Y.,  where  he  married,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  King's  council  long  before  the  war.  Having  been  appointed  Col. 
of  the  Provincial  forces  by  Howe,  at  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  put 
on  half  pay,  and  received  considerable  sums  from  Parliament  as  a 
loyalist.  He  was  descended  from  Dan'l  Axtell,  a  Col.  in  Cromwell's 
army,  who  was  beheaded  at  the  restoration,  when  his  family  removed 
to  Jamaica.  Gent.  Mag. 

859.  Lt.  Digby,  37th  regiment,  offers  2  guineas  reward  for  a 
brown  mare,  stolen  Aug.  25,  '78,  from  Bedford  heights.     Game. 

860.  5  Guineas  Reward.  Lost  16th  Oct., '78,  coming  from  Pau- 
lus  Hook  to  Brooklyn  Ferry,  a  Portmanteau  Trunk,  marked  Lt. 
Stewart,  42d  regiment,  now  in  camp  near  Bedford. 

861.  Sergeant  Jennings,  camp  of  37th,  at  Bedford,  offers  a 
guinea  reward  for  a  stray  chestnut  mare.  Riv.,  Oct.  21,  '78. 

862.  Lt.  Col.  Turnbull  of  N.  Y.  volunteers,  at  Brooklyn  Fprry, 
offers  2  guineas  reward  for  a  stray  horse.         Gaine,  Oct.  26,  '78. 

863.  £5  Reward.  Ran  away  to  city  of  N.Y.  from  Widow  Hende- 
rickie  Lott,  Flatlands,  a  black  negro  man,  &c.,  took  3  coats,  8  shirts, 
4  trowsers,  2  pair  breeches,  stockings,  &c.,  wears  in  his  shoes 
a  large  pair  of  square  silver  buckles.  Riv.,  Aov.  4,  '78. 

864.  Strayed  from  Bedford  Camp,  a  brown  horse,  bob  tail,  hog 
mane,  squirrel  head,  (late  the  property  of  Capt.  Galbreath,  of  De- 
lancey's  brigade).  A  Guinea  reward,  if  left  with  Mr.  Titus,  Brook- 
lyn Ferry.  Riv.,  Nov.  4,  '78. 

865.  One  Guinea  Reward.  Lost  between  Brooklyn  Ferry  and 
N.  Utrecht,  a  silver  mounted  double-barrelled  Pistol,  belonging  to 
an  officer  of  16th  light  dragoons,  at  N.  Utrecht. 

Riv.,  N9V.  14,  '78. 


KINGS    COUNTY.  185 

866.  TwolGuineas  Reward.  Stolen  or  strayed,  a  fortnight  ago, 
from  the  encampment  of  17th  light  infantry,  near  Bedford,  a  bay 
mare,  &c.  Riv.,  Nov.  4,  '78. 

867.  Trenton,  Nov.  1 1 ,  '78.  The  3d  inst.  Marrener,  with  7  men  of 
Lord  Stirling's  division,  landed  at  N.  Utrecht  and  brought  off  Simon 
and  Jacques  Cortelyou,  two  famous  tories  in  the  enemies'  lines,  and 
specie  and  other  property,  to  the  amount  of  $5000.  The  prisoners 
are  on  parole  at  Brunswick,  and  are  to  be  exchanged  for  two  citizens 
of  Jersey,  in  captivity  with  the  enemy. 

Capt.  Marrener  took  Simon  Cortelyou,  of  N.  Utrecht,  to  N.  Bruns 
wick,  as  a  return  for  his  uncivil  conduct  to  the  American  prisoners. 
He  took  his  silver  tankard  and  several  other  articles.     Gen.  Johnson. 

On  Tuesday  night,  Nov.  3d,  between  11  and  12,  Simon  and  Jaquea 
Cortelyou  were  carried  off  by  a  party  of  rebels,  from  the  Narrows. 
The  house  of  the  former  was  robbed  of  cash  to  the  amount  of  £200,  be- 
sides a  large  quantity  of  linen,  blankets,  &c.  The  marauders  behaved 
with  their  usual  insolence  and  inhumanity,  and  frequently  threatened 
the  terrified  children  of  the  family,  then  in  bed,  with  immediate  death. 

Gaine,  Nov.  8,  '78. 

[Marrener  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  but  kept  tavern  in  N.  Y. 
and  at  Harlem.  He  died,  1814,  aged  85,  by  falling  out  of  his  wagon. 
—Ed.] 

868.  Martin  Schenck,  Wallebocht,  advertises  for  a  schoolmaster 
to  teach  reading,  writing  and  arithmetic,  to  about  18  scholars. 

Gaine,  Dec.  7,  '78. 

869.  Mr.  Van  Buren  and  some  other  rebel  officers,  who  have 
been  on  their  parole  at  Flatbush,  for  several  months  past,  effected 
their  escape  last  week.  Gaine,  June  14,  '79. 

870.  $S  Reward.  Stolen  or  strayed,  on  Sunday  night,  Aug.  1, 
'79,  out  of  the  pasture  of  Garret  Stryker,  at  Flatbush,  a  black  geld- 
ing, property  of  Capt.  Chapman,  King's  American  regiment. 

Riv.,  Aug.  7,  '79. 

871.  Rev.  Mr.  Foley  has  opened  an  academy  at  Aram,  in  Bush- 
wick,  for  the  reception  of  young  gentlemen,  to  be  instructed  in 
Greek,  Latin,  and  the  English  tongue,  grammatically.  Would  be  will- 
in  g  to  accommodate  a  few  young  gentlemen  with  board.  For  terms 
apply  to  the  printer.  Gaine,  Aug.  30,  '79. 


186  ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF 

872.  $5  Reward  and  Charges.  Lost  or  strayed  from  Lawrence 
Van  Buskirk,  at  Gowanus,  the  night  of  18th  inst.,  a  sorrel  mare,  pro- 
perty of  Capt.  Bessonet.  Riv.,  Sep.  25,  '79. 

873.  A  cricket  match  for  50  guineas,  between  Brooklyn  and 
Greenwich  clubs,  to  be  played  this  day  at  Loosley  and  Elms,  10 
A.  M.  Gaine,  Sep.  27,  '79. 

874.  Riv.,  Oct.  2,  '79.  The  Rev.  Jas.  Sayre,  lived  in  the  large 
white  house  of  Isaac  Cortelyou,  on  the  bay  side  of  N.  Utrecht, 
which  was  burned,  Nov.  15.  Mr.  S.  published  a  translation  from 
German,  "  God's  thoughts  of  peace  in  war."  At  the  peace  he  went 
to  Nova  Scotia.  He  died  at  .Fairfield,  1798,  aged  53.  His  brother 
John  died  in  N.  Brunswick.     (See  842.) 

875.  One  Guinea  Reward.  Stolen  or  strayed  from  Gowanus,  a 
strawberry  colored  horse,  marked  L.  L,  property  of  the  battalion  of 
light  infantry,  near  Bedford.  Riv.,  Oct.  9,  '79.  ^ 

876.  $hO  Reward  offered  by  Gov.  Tryon.  George  and  Peter 
Duryea,  with  their  wives,  Sarah  and  Catherine,  being  one  family, 
made  oath  before  Richard  Alsop,  Esq.,  of  Newtown,  that  at  9  in  the 
evening  of  Oct.  15,  4  or  5  men  disguised,  meanly  habited,  with  faces 
blackened,  armed  with  a  gun,  bayonet  fixed,  a  pistol,  a  number  of 
clubs  and  a  cutlass,  forced  in  their  house  at  Bushwick,  west  side  of 
the  creek,  (some  of  the  party  being  at  the  same  time  posted  outside 
at  the  doors  and  windows.)  and  assaulted  them.  George  received  4 
dangerous  blows  on  his  head,  which  settled  him  on  the  floor.  Not 
quite  deprived  of  reason,  he  crawled  under  a  bed,  and  laid  still  to 
avoid  being  murdered.  Peter  received  6  wounds  about  his  head 
and  one  on  his  arm,  but  at  length  escaped  and  alarmed  his  neighbors. 
Meantime  the  villains  broke  open  2  desks,  and  a  cupboard,  and  took 
£220  in  good  cash,  (all  gold  and  silver)  a  pair  of  silver  knee-buckles, 
marked  P.  D.,  silver  spoons,  L  D.,  and  a  silver  bowl.  Previous  to  the 
robbery,  Catherine  was  seized  by  the  throat,  thrown  on  the  floor  and 
almost  choked  to  death.  Riv.,  Oct.  23,  '79. 

877.  $20.  Reioard.  Stolen  or  strayed  from  the  farm  of  John 
Hulst,  at  Gowanus,  4  miles  from  the  Ferry,  10  fat  cattle. 

Riv.,  Nov.    20, '79. 

878.  Riv.,  Dec.  29,  '79.  Woodcutters  will  meet  with  the  best  en 
couragement  by  applying  to  Galbreath  &  Atkins,  Smiths,  Brooklyn 


KINGS   COUNTY.  187 

Ferry,  Mr.  Polheraus,  New  Lotts,  Mr.  Betts,  Innkeeper,  Jamaica, 
Mr.  Van  Water.  Innkeeper,  New  Utrecht,  at  which  places  persons 
will  attend  to  show  them  the  wood  to  be  cut,  which  is  within  a  short 
distance  of  Brooklyn  Ferry,  on  the  Narrows.  Accommodations  and 
other  necessaries  provided  contiguous  to  the  place  of  cutting. 

879.  A  large  square  fort  is  built  on  Brooklyn  heights ;  the  season 
is  late ;  not  a  blade  of  grass.  The  people  within  the  lines  begin  to 
repair  and  rebuild  houses,  and  manure  and  inclose  fields. — Gov. 
Robertson.  May  18,  '80. 

880.  Riv,,  June  14,  '80,  Citizens  of  Brooklyn  thank  the  76th 
regiment,  commanded  by  the  Earl  of  Caithness,  and  afterwards  by 
Capt  Bruce,  for  their  constant  good  order  and  decorum,  during 
their  residence  in  Brooklyn, 

881.  Gaine,  July  2,  '80.  Pro  bono  publico.  Thursday  next, 
bull-baiting  at  Brooklyn  Ferry,  The  bull  is  remarkably  strong  and 
active,  the  best  dogs  in  the  country  expected,  and  they  that  afford 
the  best  diversion  will  be  rewarded  with  silver  collars. 

882.  Grfline,  July  17,  '80.  Address  to  Gov.  Robertson  on  his 
accession,  in  behalf  and  at  the  request  of  the  inhabitants  of  Kings 
county,  signed  by  Wm.  Axtell,  Rutgert  Van  Brunt,  Richard  Still- 
well,  Jeromus  Lott,  Ab.  Liquere,  M.  Cowenhoven,  Rem  Cowenho- 
ven,  Maj-  Jeromus  V.  D.  Belt,  Adrian  Vanbrunt,  Leffert  Lefferts, 
Johannes  Bergen. 

They  concur  with  His  Excellency  in  ascribing  to  the  ambitious 
and  self-interested  views  of  a  few  who  conceal  from  the  multitude 
the  offers  of  Great  Britain,  that  our  countrymen,  once  so  happy,  are 
brought  to  feel  the  miseries  held  up  to  their  fears  to  seduce  them 
from  the  felicity  they  once  enjoyed,  subjected  as  they  now  are  to  a 
usurpation  that  has  annihilated  their  commerce,  shed  their  blood  and 
wasted  their  property,  and  is  now  dragging  the  laborious  husbandman 
from  the  plough  to  the  field  of  battle  to  support  their  unauthorized 
combinations  with  designing  popish  and  arbitrary  powers.  "  We 
cannot  sufficiently  applaud  your  Excellency  for  affording  them  the 
means  of  extricating  themselves,  and  assure  you  of  our  loyal  endea- 
vors for  His  Majesty's  service,"  Riv.,  July  12, 

883.  3  Guineas  Reward.  Stolen  or  strayed  from  the  encamp- 
ment of  the  43d  regiment  near  Brooklyn,  a  bay  horse,  &c. 

Riv.,  July  19,  '80. 


188  ARMED   OCCUPATION    OF 

884.  PRO  BONO  PUBLICO. 

Saturday  next  being  the  birth-day  of  His  Royal  Highness  the 
Prince  of  Wales,  Loosely,  agreeably  to  an  honest  old  custom,  wishes 
to  see  his  royal  and  constitutional  friends — dinner  at  3.  The  even- 
ing to  conclude  with  fireworks  and  illuminations.  A  good  band  of 
music. 

[CF  REBELS,  approach  no  nearer  than  the  heights  of  Brooklyn. 

Riv.,  Aug,  9,  '80. 

885.  $8  and  no  questions.  Stolen  or  strayed  from  Cornelius 
Duryea,  Brooklyn,  a  chestnut  brown  gelding,  branded  N.  on  near 
thigh.  Aug.  16,  '80. 

886.  Gaine,  Aug.  28,  '80.  $8  Reward  and  charges.  Stolen  or 
strayed  out  of  the  pasture  of  Adrian  Hegeman,  Flatbush,  Aug  22,  a 
black  mare,  branded  O.  on  her  buttock. 

887.  Gaine,  Aug.  28,  '80.  40  Shillings  Reward.  Ran  away 
from  Dennis  Dennis,  at  the  Narrows,  a  negro  boy,  Lawrence  ;  has 
been  on  board  the  Grand  Duke. 

888.  2  Guineas  Reward  by  John  Cornell,  Brooklyn  Ferry.  Ran 
away,  a  negro,  Jack,  branded  on  back  part  of  the  ear,  arm,  and  but- 
tock. Gaine,  Sep.  18,  '80. 

889.  Stolen  or  strayed,  Friday  night,  from  the  pasture  of  Thos. 
Horsefield,  at  Brooklyn  Ferry,  two  horses.        Riv.,  Oct.  18,  '80. 

890.  Riv.,  Sep.  20,  '80.  Anniversary  of  the  Coronation  of  our 
ever  good  and  gracious  King,  will  be  celebrated  at  Loosely's,  22gI 
inst.  It  is  expected  that  no  rebel  will  approach  nearer  than  Flat- 
bush  wood. 

891.  By  permission — 3  days^  sport  on  Ascot  Heath,,  formerly 

Flatlands  Plain. 

Monday.  I.  The  Noblemen's  and  Gentlemen's  purse  of  £60, 
free  for  any  horse  except  Mr.  Wortman's,  and  Mr.  Allen's  Dulci- 
more,  who  won  the  plate  at  Beaver  Pond  last  season.  2.  A  saddle, 
bridle,  and  whip,  worth  £15,  by  ponies  not  exceeding  13^  hands. 

Tuesday.  1.  Ladies'  subscription  purse  of  £50.  2.  To  be  run 
for  by  women,  a  Holland  smock  and  chintz  gown,  full  trimmed — to 
run  the  best  2  in  3,  quarter-mile  heats  ;  tlie  first  to  have  the  smock 


KINGS    COUNTY.  189 

and  gown,  of  4  guineas  value ;  the  second  a  guinea,  the  third  a  half 
guinea. 

Wednesday.  County  subscription  purse  £50.  No  person  will 
erect  a  booth  or  sell  liquor  without  first  subscribing  2  guineas  to- 
ward the  expense  of  the  race.  Gentlemen  fond  of  fox  hunting  will 
meet  at  Loosely's  King's  Head  tavern  at  daybreak,  during  the  races. 

God  Save  the  King  played  every  hour.         Riv.,  Nov.  4,  '80. 

892.  Gaine,  Jan.  20,  '81.  Wednesday  last  four  armed  men 
found  concealed  in  a  barn  at  Bushwick,  were  brought  to  N.  Y.  un- 
der a  strong  guard  of  militia. 

893.  Pro  bono  puhlico.  By  permission,  4  days'  sport  on  Easter 
Monday,  on  Ascot  Heath.     Purses  of  £50,  £50,  £100,  £100. 

Gaine,  Feb.  12,  '81. 

894.  Riv.,  Ap.  14,  '81.  Last  Sunday  evening  a  sloop  from  N. 
Y.  was  captured  off  Coney  Island  by  two  rebel  whale-boats  from 
Brunswick,  commanded  by  Dickie  and  Marrener.  After  plundering 
the  vessel  of  goods  to  a  considerable  value,  she  was  ransomed  for 
500  hard  dollars. 

Brunswick,  Ap.  24,  '81. 

To  Mr.  Loring. — Sir :  In  a  New-York  paper  it  is  said  I  was  con- 
cerned in  taking  a  sloop,  such  a  report  is  without  foundation.  I  am  on 
parole,  which  I  shall  give  the  strictest  attention  to.  She  was  taken  by 
Hyler  and  Dickie.  Yours,  &c., 

WM.  MARRENER. 

Marrener  was  obnoxious  to  the  N.  Y.  magistrates.  He  would  not 
have  been  exchanged  but  for  Simcoe's  explaining  to  Clinton  how  Mar- 
rener had  saved  his  life,  when  a  boy  was  about  to  bayonet  him  as  he 
lay  senseless  on  the  ground.  Simcoe,  p.  288,  264. 

895.  Chatham,  May  2,  '81.  On  Sunday  night,  Ap.  15,  Capt. 
Hyler,  of  Brunswick,  went  over  to  L.  I.,  [Michael  Bergen's,  Gow- 
anus,]  and  brought  off  a  Hessian  major  and  ensign  with  their  wait- 
ers, who  are  now  here  on  parole.  They  were  in  the  centre  of  two 
picket  guards,  yet  the  address  of  Hyler  was  such,  that  the  guards 
were  not  alarmed  till  he  was  out  of  their  power. 

896.  Ran  away  from  the  regiment  of  Brunswick  dragoons  at 
Flatlands,  a  black  drummer  named  Prince  Dermcn,  light  blue  clothes. 
Proper  reward.  Riv.,  May  5,  '81. 

9* 


190  ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF 

897.  Gaine,  May  21,  '81.  Saturday  night  last  a  pilot  boat  of 
Capt.  David  Morris  and  two  other  boats,  were  taken  between  Robin's 
Reef  and  Yellow  Hook,  by  a  whale-boat  from  Brunswick.  Mr. 
Morris's  boat  was  plundered  of  several  articles,  and  afterwards  ran- 
somed for  $400. 

898.  Grand  Races  at  Ascot  Heath  postponed  till  June  6,  on  ac- 
count of  the  King's  birth  day ;  on  which  occasion  it  is  expected 
every  true  subject  will  so  strain  his  nerves  in  rejoicing  as  to  prevent 
this  amusement  being  agreeable  before  that  time.  A  hurling  match 
on  the  ground,  June  5,  when  those  who  have  a  curiosity  to  play  (or 
see)  that  ancient  diversion,  will  get  hurls  and  bats  at  the  Irish  Flag. 

Gaine,  May  30,  '81. 

899.  Rii\,  June  6,  '81.  $4  Reward.  Stolen  out  of  the  house 
of  Mr.  Chatham,  near  Bedford,  a  silver  watch.  The  soldiers  of  the 
corps  of  guides  and  pioneers,  quartered  near,  are  suspected. 

900.  Gaine,  June  18,  '81.  About  10,  last  Thursday  night, 
the  house  of  Nicholas  Schenck,  near  3  miles  South  of  Flatbush,  was 
surprised  by  the  crews  of  2  rebel  whale-boats  from  Brunswick. 
The  family  were  at  supper  when  the  rebels  entered  the  house,  and 
of  course  not  prepared  to  make  any  resistance.  They  therefore 
took  away  every  thing  they  could  carry,  wounded  Peter  Bogart, 
of  N.  Y.,  a  lodger  in  the  house,  in  the  side  with  a  bayonet,  took 
away  his  money  and  plate,  and  the  plate  of  the  family,  to  a  con- 
siderable amount. 

Hyler  took  a  sergeant's  guard  at  Canausie  from  the  liouse  of  their 
Capt.,  Schenck.  The  guards  were  at  supper,  and  their  muskets 
standing  in  the  hall,  when  he  entered.  He  seized  the  arms,  and 
after  jesting  with  the  guard,  borrowed  the  silver  spoons,  took  all 
their  muskets  and  a  few  other  articles,  and  made  one  prisoner.  He 
then  sent  the  guards  to  report  themselves  to  Col.  Axtell,  and  re- 
turned to  N.  Jersey.  Johnson. 

901. 

To  all  who  know  not,  be  it  understood 
Pro  bono  'publico,  means  manldnd's  good. 
This  day  will  be  cxliibited  at  Brooklyn  ferry  a  bull-baiting  after 
the  true  English  manner.    Taurus  will  be  brought  to  llic  ring  at  half 
past  3.     Some  good  dogs  arc  already  provided,  but  every  assistance 


KINGS   COUNTY.  191 

of  that  sort  will  be  esteemed  a  favor,  A  dinner  exactly  British  will 
be  upon  Loosely's  table  at  two  o'clock,  after  which  there  is  no  doubt 
the  song  of  "  ok,  the  roast  beef  of  old  England,'''  will  be  sung  with 
harmony  and  glee. 

This,  notice  gives  to  all  who  covet 

Baiting  the  bull,  and  dearly  love  it ; 

To-morrow's  very  afternoon. 

At  three— or  rather  not  so  soon, 

A  bull  of  magnitude  and  spirit 

Will  dare  the  dogs'  presuming  merit. 

Taurus  is  steel  to  the  back  bone, 

And  canine  cunning  does  disown. 

True  British  blood  runs  through  his  veins. 

And  barking  numbers  he  disdains. 

Sooner  tiian  knavish  dogs  shall  rule. 

He'll  prove  himself  a  true  John  Bull, 

Riv.,  June  20,  '81. 

902,  Situation  of  British,  forces  in  Kings  Co-,  obtained  from  spies 
and  deserters. 

Mar.,  '77.  Sir  Jas,  Grant,  and  about  a  dozen  ragged  troops,  at 
N.  Utrecht  Feb.  16,  '79.  33d  Reg.  li^ht  infantry,  (300)  and  2d 
Bat.  Highlanders  (750)  at  Bedford,  3d  Prince  Hereditary  350,  and 
4th  Charles  (300)  at  Brooklyn.  July  T, 'SI.  54th,  encamped  on 
Ferry  Hill,  two  miles  from  Brooklyn,  two  companies  at  Cobble  Hill, 
which  Fort  they  are  repairing.  The  new  Fort  at  Brooklyn  is  yet 
imperfect — only  18  cannon  mounted.  JulyS,  '81,  In  Brooklyn  Fort 
are  200  Brunswickers,  2  bomb-proof  magazines  in  the  Fort,  200 
Grenadiers  at  Bedford.  Cobble  Hill  commanded  Brooklyn  Fort,  but 
made  lower,  for  fear  it  might  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Continentals, 
Jan.  8,  '82.  At  Flatbush  are  38th  Reg.  (300)  and  54th  (400). 
Feb.  6,  '82,  At  Brooklyn  is  the  Anhault  Zerbet  Reg.,  at  the  Nar- 
rows, the  Brunswick  Reg.,  at  Flatbush,  Delancey's  3d  Bat.  and 
King's  American  dragoons,  June  3,  '82,  The  lines  drawn  between 
Brooklyn  Church  and  Ferry  by  Clinton,  are  not  likely  to  be  com- 
pleted by  Carlton.  They  are  carting  fascines  now.  On  L.  I.  are 
about  3,500  men.   July  5,  '82,  At  Flatbush  is  CoL  Ludlow's  Reg, 

903,  Riv..,  Sep.  1,  '81.  About  2  o'clock  Wednesday  morning, 
a  man  named  Brown  was  taken  up  by  a  picket  of  the  militia,  at 
Flatlands,  on  whom  was  found  a  quantity  of  jewelry,  &c. 


192  ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF 

904.  $10  Reward.  Stolen  from  the  Mills  of  J.  Rapalje,  Jr., 
Sunday  night  a  Moses  built  boat.  Riv,,  Sep.  1,  '81. 

905.  $16  Reward.  Absconded  from  their  owners,  from  the 
house  of  Mr.  Rubel,  at  Flatbnsh,  2  negro  slaves,  Betsey,  marked 
T.  A.  on  right  shoulder,  and  Polly,  without  any  mark,  both  speak 
bad  English.  Riv.,  Sep.  1,  '81. 

906.  Strayed  or  stolen  from  the  pasture  in  the  rear  of  Lt.  Col. 
Lowenstein's  Bat.  of  Hessian  Grenadiers,  at  Yellow  Hook,  a  sorrel 
horse,  &c.     Also  two  King's  wagon  horses,  marked  G.  R. 

Riv.,  Sep.  5,  '81. 

907.  Sunday  night,  a  rebel  galley  and  whale-boat,  came  to  Yel- 
low Hook  to  plunder,  but  a  party  of  Hessian  Troops  stationed  there 
secured  them  and  their  boats.  jRir.,  Sep.  12,  '81. 

908.  Riv.,  June  30,  '81.  Jas.  Rankin,  Ch'n  of  the  Board  of  Re- 
fugees, requests  the  Loyal  Refugees  of  Kings  Co.,  to  appear  at  the 
house  of  Dr.  Van  Buren,  Flatbush,  on  Wednesday  next  at  noon,  to 
consult  on  matters  of  importance. 

909.  £8  Reward.  Stolen  from  the  Stakesby  Navy  victualler, 
by  2  sailors  of  the  ship  at  the  King's  Brewery,  L.  I.,  a  clinker  built 
skiff.  Riv.,  Sep.  5,  '81. 

910.  Dr.  Allemand  offers  a  handsome  reward  for  a  mouse-col- 
ored horse,  marked  C.  D.  B.,  on  his  left  buttock,  which  was  stolen 
or  strayed  out  of  the  pasture  of  John  Debevoice,  near  Brooklyn 
Church.  Riv.,  July  2\, '81. 

911.  Brooklyn  Hunt.  The  hounds  will  throw  off  at  Denyse's. 
Ferry,  at  9,  Thursday  morning.  A  guinea  or  more  will  be  given  for 
a  good  strong  bag  fox  by  Chas.  Loosely.  Riv.,  Nov.  14,  '81. 

912.  Riv.,  Dec.  19,  '81.  "  The  Loyalists  in  the  village  of  Flat- 
bush  are  pleased  in  expectation  that  a  certain  long,  tall,  spindle- 
shanked  miscreant,  who  resides  hero,  will  be  brought  to  condign 
punishment  for  holding  private  correspondence  with  the  rebels. 
Though  he  took  tlie  oath  of  allegiance  when  the  royal  army  found 
him  in  Jersey,  his  heart  is  as  black  as  his  skin,  and  his  skin  as  blue 
as  when  he  assisted  Isaac  Scars  and  others  in  stealing  the  King's 
cannon  from  the  Battery  ui  New-York.    If  he  escapes  the  cord  he  so 


KINGS    COUNTY.  193 

justly  merits  may  he  be  banished  these  Lines ;  for  loyalists  can't  be 
safe  where  such  a  traitor  resides." 

913.  $6  Reward.  Strayed  or  stolen  from  the  lands  of  John 
Ryerson  at  the  Wallebocht,  a  bay  horse,  tail  nickt,  &c. 

Riv.,  July  21, '81. 

914.  Chatham,  Aug.  15,  '81.  A  few  days  since,  Capt.  Hyler, 
with  his  wonted  spirit  of  enterprise,  went  over  to  L.  I.,  marched 
3^  miles  into  the  country,  and  brought  off  to  N.  Brunswick,  Col. 
Jeromus  Lott,  a  person  notorious  for  his  cruelty  to  our  prisoners, 
and  John  Hankins,  Capt.  of  a  vessel. 

On  the  night  of  Aug.  4th,  the  crew  of  a  rebel  whale-boat  from  N. 
Jersey,  landed  at  Flatlands,  and  robbed  the  house  of  Col.  Lott  of  about 
jCGOO  in  cash,  and  carried  him  off  with  two  of  his  slaves.  They  also 
robbed  the  house  of  Capt.  Lott  in  the  same  neighborhood,  of  a  consid- 
erable sum  in  specie.  Gaine,  Aug.  13,  '81. 

The  Col.  was  known  to  be  rich.  His  person  and  money  were  the 
objects  desired.  His  cupboard  was  searched  for  money,  and  some  silver 
found  ;  on  further  search,  two  bags,  supposed  to  contain  guineas,  were 
discovered.  In  the  morning,  on  their  passage  up  the  Raritan,  the  Capt. 
and  crew  agreed  to  count  and  divide  the  guineas.  The  bags  were 
opened,  when  to  the  mortification  of  the  crew,  they  were  found  to  con- 
tain only  half-pennies  belonging  to  the  church  at  Flatlands ;  and  the 
Col.  discovered  that  his  guineas  were  safe  at  home.  They  compelled 
the  Col.  to  ransom  his  negroes  at  N.  Brunswick,  when  he  returned  home 
on  parole.  Johnson. 

916.  Gaine,  Dec.  24,  '81.  Nov.  1,  some  evil-minded  person 
took  from  Barren  L,  Gravesend  tovNTiship,a  brown  Colt,&c.,  of  Rut- 
gert  Van  Brunt,  Esq.,  Sheriff,  burnt  with  letter  Q,  on  near  thigh, 
supposed  carried  up  the  Island  and  sold.  3  guineas  reward  is  offered 
by  Hend'k  Johnson. 

917.  Riv.,  Jan.  12,  '82.  Last  Wednesday  evening,  a  party  of 
infantry,  under  Capt.  Beckwith,  embarked  in  6  boats,  and  at  5  next 
morning,  arrived  off  Brunswick,  where  they  landed  and  brought  off 
all  Capt.  Hyler's  boats.  This  Hyler  is  a  deserter  from  the  royal 
service,  and  has  ever  since  his  defection,  been  too  successful  an 
enterpriser.  Gaine,  Feb.  28,  '82.  "  We  hear  Capt.  Hyler  launched 
a  new  boat,  at  Brunswick,  that  rows  30  oars." 


194  ARMED   OCCUPATION    OF 

918.  Riv.,  Mar.  16,  '82.  We  hear  the  inhabitants  of  Kings  Co . 
complain  bitterly,  against  the  rebel  chiefs,  on  the  score  of  a  heavy- 
debt  contracted  by  their  prisoners,  from  May,  '79,  to  Feb.,  '81,  for 
board  and  washing,  which  at  $2  per  week,  has  accumulated  to  near 
£20,000.  Their  Commissary  had  given  notes  of  hand.— [f  30,000 
was  voted  by  Congress,  to  pay  this  debt. — Ed.] 

919.  Riv.,  Ap.  27,  '82.  A  sweepstakes  of  300  guineas,  was  won 
by  Jacob  Jackson's  mare.  Slow  and  Easy,  over  Mercury  and  Gold- 
finder,  on  Ascot  Heath.  The  two  beaten  horses  are  to  run  for  100 
guineas  a  side,  on  Wednesday  next,  on  the  same  ground. 

920.  Conn.  Courant,  May  7,  '82.  May  3,  on  Monday  se'nnight, 
the  enemy  began  to  break  ground  to  cut  a  canal  on  L.  I.,  to  run  from 
the  Wallebocht  to  the  Pond,  taking  in  Cobble  Hill  Fort.  The  length 
of  the  trench  is  2^  miles.  The  militia  are  called  out  in  rotation  one 
day  in  a  week,  none  above  1 5  being  excused  from  labor.  [A  strong 
line  of  intrenchment  was  made  from  the  hill  of  Rem  A.  Remsen 
along  the  highland  of  John  Rapalje,  crossing  Sand  St.  near  Jay  St., 
and  thence  over  the  highest  land  at  Washington  St.  across  the  Jamaica 
road,  to  the  large  fort  on  the  Heights. — Johnson.] 

921.  Ascot  Heath  Races. — Monday  next  a  match  for  60  guineas 
between  Mr.  Van  Mater's  Juniper  and  Mr.  Ryerson's  Calf  Skin. 
To  run  the  best  of  3  two-mile  heats.  Riv.,  May  25,  '82. 

922.  One  Guina  Reward. — Stolen  or  strayed  from  Capt.  Fra- 
zer's  Quarters  of  the  Pioneers,  at  Bushwick,  on  the  night  of  the 
28th  May,  '82.  a  small  chestnut-colored  horse,  &c. 

923.  Last  Tuesday  night  a  whale-boat  attempted  to  land  at  the 
Narrows,  near  the  house  of  Denise  Denise,  Esq.,  but  were  so  warmly 
received  by  4  of  the  Queen's  Rangers,  sentries,  that  they  were  soon 
obliged  to  take  to  their  oars.  Some  of  the  sentries  were  wounded 
in  several  places.  Gaine,  July  1,  '82. 

924.  Last  Tuesday  night  Mr.  Hyler  took  2  fishing-boats  near 
the  Narrows,  and  ransomed  them  for  ^100  each.  One  of  them  has 
been  twice  captured.  Gaine,  July  15,  '82. 

925.  July  24,  '82.  A  little  before  sunset,  Tuesday  last,  Mr. 
Hyler,  with  3  large  24  oared  boats,  made  an  attack  on  the  galley  sta- 
tioned at  Prince's  Bay,  south  side  of  Staten  I.    Tliere  being  little  or 


KINGS    COUNTY.  195 

no  wind,  he  came  up  with  a  good  deal  of  resolution,  but  Capt.  Cash- 
man  gave  him  an  18  pounder,  which  went  through  the  stern  of  one 
of  the  boats,  and  obliged  Hyler  to  put  ashore  on  the  island,  where 
after  a  smart  combat  he  was  obliged  to  leave  one  of  his  boats,  and 
make  the  best  of  his  way  home  with  the  other  two. 

John  Althouse,  with  12  men,  was  on  board  a  guard-boat  at  anchor 
in  Prince's  Bay,  when  two  whale-boats  were  descried  under  South 
Amboy  shore.  It  was  a  calm.  The  cable  was  sprung  and  a  24  pounder 
brought  to  bear,  which  sent  a  shot  through  Hyler's  boat.  His  crew 
were  taken  in  the  other  boat,  (Dickey's)  and  all  made  off  for  N.  Bruns- 
wick with  Gen.  Jacob  S.  Jackson,  whom  they  had  captured  in  South 
Bay,  and  kept  prisoner  till  he  was  ransomed. 

Died,  Sep.  6,  '82,  after  a  tedious  and  painful  illness,  which  he  bore 
with  a  great  deal  of  fortitude,  the  brave  Capt.  Adam  Hyler,  of  New 
Brunswick.  His  many  enterprising  acts  in  annoying  and  distressing 
the  enemy,  endeared  him  to  the  patriotic  part  of  his  acquaintance.  He 
has  left  a  wife  and  two  small  children  to  bewail  his  death.  His  remains 
were  decently  interred  with  a  display  of  the  honors  of  war  in  the  Dutch 
burial-ground,  attended  by  a  very  numerous  concourse  of  his  acquaint- 
ances. N.  J.  Gaz.,  Sep.  25,  '82. 

"  Hyler  died  of  a  wound  in  the  knee,  accidentally  given  by  himself 
some  time  ago."  Siv.,  Sep.  11,  '82. 

926.  To  Baron  de  Walzogen,  Capt.  Commandant  of  the  combined 
detachment  of  Brunswick  and  Hessian  Ilanau  troops,  now  at 
Brooklyn  camp. 

The  inhabitants  of  New  Utrecht,  sensible  of  the  vigilant  care, 
good  order,  and  discipline  prevailing  among  the  officers  and  soldiers 
during  your  command  at  the  Narrows,  beg  your  acceptance  of  their 
warmest  thanks  for  your  attention  to  the  security  of  our  persons  and 
property,  from  Oct.  7,  '81,  to  July  30,  '82. 

Adrian  Van  Brunt,  John  Counhoven,  Hermanns  Barkelow,  De- 
nys  Denys,  Nich.  Counhoven.  Aug.  6,  '82.  Gaine. 

927.  The  crops  of  corn  and  wheat  are  very  indifferent  in  many 
parts  of  the  country.  Indeed  L.  I.  has  experienced  the  effects  of  a 
very  dry  summer.  Aug.  26,  '82.     Gaine. 

928.  Stolen,  Thursday  night,  from  John  Drawyer,  Brooklyn 
ferry,  a  trunk  containing  2  fowling-pieces,  some  battle  powder,  4 


196  ARMED    OCCUPATION  OF 

agate  flints,  one  like  yellow  marble,  2  old  bird-nets,  and  a  3  gallon  keg 
of  remarkably  good  Antigua  spirits.  2  guineas  reward,  by  John  Hill, 
Inspector.  Gaine,  Sep.  11,  '82. 

929.  To  be  sold,  Sep.  2,  '82,  near  the  wagon-yard  at  Brooklyn, 
large  and  small  wagons,  carts,  harness,  &c.  Gaine. 

930.  Capt.  Peter  Nephew  of  the  Gen.  Greene  whale-boat,  from 
New  Brunswick,  was  taken,  Sep.  8,  '82,  and  kept  in  Provost  till 
March,  '83. 

931.  Riv.,  Jan.  8,  '83.  Carlton  appoints  Mr.  Ernest  de  Die- 
mar,  Major  of  the  Fort  of  Brooklyn.  [The  old  Fort  was  near  the 
junction  of  Henry  and  Pierrepont  Sts. — Ed.] 

932.  Riv.,  Nov.  2,  82.  Wed.  last,  as  Sam'l  Brower  was  agoing 
to  kill  wild  fowl,  he  laid  his  gun  in  the  canoe,  which  was  aground, 
and  setting  his  shoulders  to  it,  endeavored  to  work  off  the  stern, 
when  the  gun  discharged  by  the  rocking  of  the  canoe.  The  load 
entered  Mr.  B.'s  breast  and  killed  him  instantly.  He  has  left  a 
young  family. 

933.  N.  J.  Gaz.,  Nov.  13,  '82.  The  brave  Capt.  Storer,  com- 
missioned as  a  private  boat-of-war,  under  the  States,  and  who  pro- 
mises fair  to  be  the  genuine  successor  of  the  late  valiant  Capt. 
Hyler,  has  given  a  recent  instance  of  his  valor  and  conduct  in  cap- 
turing one  of  the  enemy's  vessels,  and  in  cutting  out  a  vessel  lying 
under  the  flag-staff*  and  within  half  pistol  shot  of  the  battery  of  14 
guns  at  the  watering  place,  Staten  Island. 

934.  Address  of  the  principal  inliabitants  of  Kings  and  Queens 
Cos.  to  David  Scott,  Esq.,  Capt.  and  commissary  of  artillery  horse, 
Dec,  1782.  They  lament  his  departure  for  England,  admire  his 
civil  and  military  conduct,  his  zeal  and  attention  in  His  Majesty's 
service ;  his  behavior  as  a  civilian,  has  been  distinguished  with  justice 
and  agreeable  manners,  so  necessary  to  promote  His  Majesty's 
interest  in  this  country,  and  they  hope  his  endeavors  will  be  re- 
warded. 

Arch'd  Hamilton, Col.  Com.  Q.  Co.  Nidi's  Schenck,  Capt.  K.  Co.  Mil. 

Mil.  .John   Rapalje,  late    Col.  K.  Co. 

Jcrem.   V.  D.  Belt,  Major  K.  Co.  Mil. 

Mil.  Dowe  Ditmars,  En.  Q.  Co.  Mil. 


KINGS    COUNTY. 


197 


Dan'l  Rapalje,  Lt.  Q.  Co.  Mil. 
Johannes  Remsen,  Lt.  K.  Co.  Mil. 
Jos.  French,  Jus.  Quorum,  Q.  Co. 
Dan'l  Lent,  Cornet,  Q.  Co.  Horse, 
Christ.  Benson,  Capt.  N.  Y.  Ran- 
gers. 
Jeromus  Lott,  Lt.  Col. 
Richard  Betts,Capt. 

Isaac  Cortelyou, 


Maurice  Lott,  late  Sheriff,  K.  Co. 
Cor's  Wykoff,  Jus.  Quorum,  K. 

Co. 
Sam'l   Hallet,   Capt.    Delancey's 

Brigade. 
Peter  Lott,  Capt. 
John  Polhemus,  Lt. 


Hendrick  Eldert, 
Denyse  Denyse, 
Dan'l  Luyster, 
Garret  Luyster, 
Nath'l  Moore,  3d. 
Nath'l  Moore,  2d. 
David  Moore, 
Nich's  Wykoff, 
Jacob  Snedeker, 
Nich's  Williamson, 
John  Williamson, 
Gozen  Ryers, 
Henry  Van  Buren, 


John  Wetherhead, 
Isaac  Eldert, 
Isaac  Rapalje, 
Jacob  Rapalje, 
Abraham  Lent, 
John  Moore, 
Jos.  Moore, 
Thos.  Harriot, 
Hend'k  Wykoff, 
John  Benham, 
Wm.  Van  Nuise, 
Albert  Terhune, 
Theophylact  Bache, 
John  Johnston, 


Whitehead  Cornell, 
Jaques  Cortelyou, 
Simon  Cortelyou, 
Jos.  Hallet, 
Wm.  Hallet, 
Sam'l  Doughty, 
Cha's  Doughty, 
Wm.  Doughty, 
Johannes  Lott, 
Jurrian  Lott, 
Joost  Wykoff, 
Wm.  Cowenhoven, 
Aug.  Van  Cortland, 
John  Waters, 


9.35.  Gaine,  Jan.  27,  '83.  Leffert  Lefferts,  offers  2  guineas  re- 
ward for  2  colts,  (branded  L.  L.  on  near  side),  stolen  or  strayed  off 
the  common  about  Bedford,  la.st  summer. 

936.  Gaine,  Jan.  27,  '83.  On  Tuesday,  21st,  was  drawn  up  at 
Flatbush,  on  the  green  in  front  of  Col.  Axtell's  house,  the  regiment 
of  Waldeck,  to  consecrate  the  colors  :  present  Gen.  Campbell  com- 
manding on  the  Island,  and  Maj.  Gen.  Hackenbergh  commanding 
the  Hessians  on  the  Island,  with  their  suites.  The  regiment  was 
formed  in  a  circle,  wherein  the  Audileur  took  the  solemn  vow  of 
the  officers  and  men  to  support  the  new  colors  their  Prince  had  sent 
them.  They  then  returned  to  the  ground,  wheeled  by  subdivisions, 
marched  and  passed  the  General,  the  officers  saluting.  A  most 
splendid  dinner  was  given  by  Col.  De  Hoorn,  to  the  Generals, 
officers,  and  the  principal  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  the  village.  The 
evening  concluded  with  a  splendid  ball,  and  elegant  supper.  Each 
of  the  ladies  presented  the  officer  who  escorted  tlie  colors,  with  a 
knot  of  blue  and  yellow  ribbons. 


198  ARMED    OCCUrATION    OF 

937.  Maij  30,  '83.  Albert  Conrad  de  Hoorn,  Lt.  Col.  Com't  of 
the  Prince  of  Wal deck's  3d  regiment,  at  Flatbush,  in  the  service  of 
the  King  of  Great  Britain,  offers  pardon  to  all  Hessian  deserters. 

938.  Gaine,  Feb.  24,  '83.  Subscription  assembly  at  Loosely 's, 
Brooklyn  Hall,  every  other  Thursday  during  the  season,  for  the 
gentlemen  of  the  army  and  navy,  public  departments  and  citizens. 
Half  a  guinea  each  night  to  provide  music,  tea,  coffee,  chocolate, 
negus,  sangaree,  lemonade,  &-c. 

939.  Riv.,  Feb.  26,  '83.  A  whale-boat  was  taken  up  by  the 
guides  and  pioneers  quartered  near  Bushwick  church. 

940.  50  Guineas  Reward.  On  the  night  of  March  4,  '83,  be- 
tween 7  and  10  o'clock,  a  number  of  villains  entered  the  house  of 
Maurice  Lott,  violently  assaulted  and  robbed  him  of  between  4  and 
600  guineas,  chiefly  in  gold,  a  silver  watch,  6  silver  teaspoons,  tea- 
tongs,  a  pair  of  round  gold  buttons  marked  I.  R. 

Riv.,  March  12. 
[Richard  Thompson  and  Isaac  Bunting,  inhabitants  of  L.  I.,  were 
put  in  Provost,  on  charge  of  this  robbery.  Riv.,  Ap.  2,  '83. 

941.  Riv.,  April  5,  '83.  Race  at  Ascot  Heath.  A  purse  of  100 
guineas,  on  April  9,  between  Calfskin  and  Fearnought,  the  best  of 
3  one  mile  heats. 

942.  Afril  26,  '83.  Gaine.  Last  Thursday,  Catharine,  daughter 
of  Leffert  Lefferts,  Esq.,  in  Bedford,  a  very  amiable  and  accomplished 
young  lady,  having  observed  to  her  mother  that  a  loaded  pistol  left 
by  a  drover,  who  had  been  watching  his  cattle  with  it  the  preceding 
night,  upon  a  chest  of  drawers,  was  rather  dangerously  placed,  and 
that  some  of  the  children  might  get  hurt  by  it,  proceeded  to  remove 
and  put  it  in  a  holster  that  hung  close  by  ;  but  in  the  operation  the 
pistol  discharged,  the  shot  went  through  her  body,  and  she  expired 
immediately. 

ELEGY. 

What  doleful  tidings  in  my  ear  they  ring, 

The  maid  I  love,  is  she  for  ever  gone  ? 
Alas,  'tis  true  !  her  funeral  dirge  tiiey  sing  : 

In  rueful  notes,  her  hapless  end  bemoan. 
*         *         *         *         *         m         * 


KINGS    COUNTY.  199 

No  consolation  can  this  world  now  yield, 

No  pleasing  prospect  can  my  cares  begnile  ; 
The  bloom  of  flowers,  nor  verdure  of  the  fields. 

Her  presence  only,  could  make  all  things  smile. 
Accursed  pistol,  by  some  demon  primed. 

Malignant  to  the  gem  the  world  contained, 
Wast  thou  by  dire  explosion  thus  ill-timed. 

To  rob  the  world  of  excellence,  ordained  ! 
No  more  shall  Cath'rine  rise  upon  my  sight. 

Like  eastern  Sol,  in  her  own  beauty's  light ; 
No  more  the  rose  of  Sharon  shall  adorn 

Her  lovely  visage  in  the  welcome  mom  ; 

^11  this  is  lost,  her  cheeks,  alas  !  are  pale, 
The  Rose  is  now  the  Lily  of  the  vale  ! 
Covered  with  earth,  into  the  silent  grave. 

She  lies  entombed,  deaf  to  every  cry  ; 
******* 

Then  pray  descend,  fair  Catharina's  shade, 

Into  my  dreams  and  visions  of  the  night ; 
Put  rapturous  illusions  in  my  head, 

That  sad  realities  may  have  respite. 
Too  much  an  angel  for  a  world  of  woe  ; 

Eternal  wisdom  hath  conceived  it  best, 
On  her  a  crown  of  glory  to  bestow. 

Among  the  saints  in  her  Redeemer's  rest 

943.  April  30,  '83.  Riv.  $S  Reward.— Ran  away  from  Rem 
H.  Remsen,  Wallebocht,  Sam,  a  mulatto  negro  man.  He  speaks 
English  and  Low  Dutch. 

944.  July  30,  '83.  Riv.  5  Guineas  Reward. — Ran  away  from 
Jeromus  Lott,  a  negro  boy,  Jack. 

945.  At  Flatbush,  in  honor  of  the  King's  birthday,  the  ladies  and 
gentlemen  were  most  elegantly  entertained  at  a  truly  splendid  ball 
and  supper,  by  the  officers  of  the  Waldeck  regiment. — April  28,  '83. 

946.  At  auction  at  the  King's  naval  Brewery,  L.  I.,  60  or  70  tons 
of  iron-hoops,  and  70,000  dry  and  provision  casks,  staves,  and  head- 
ing, in  lots  of  10,000.  Riv.,  May  26,  '83. 

947.  JwZy  2, '83.  Riv.  Auction  at  Flatbush.— The  WALDECK 
STORES,  viz ;  soldiers'  shirts ;  blue,  white,  and  yellow  cloth ; 
thread  stockings,  shoe-soles,  heel-taps,  &c.,  &c. 

948.  Riv.,  July  26,  '83.  A  negro  boy  came  to  me  on  Rockaway 
Beach.  Apply  to  Jas.  Foreman,  Ensign,  Royal  Garrison  Bat.,  at 
Quarters,  New  Lots. 


200  ARMED    OCCUPATION    OF 

949.  Rii\,  Aug.  1,  '83.  Tunis  Bennet  of  Brooklyn  is  in  Provost 
for  carrying  deserters  from  the  Hessian  Reg.  du  corps,  to  the  Jer- 
sey Shore. 

950.  Aug.  4,  '83.  Gaine.  Stolen  out  of  the  pasture  of  Johan- 
nes E.  Lott,  Flatbush,  night  of  Aug.  27,  a  bay  mare,  branded  I.  L. 
on  near  thigh. 

951.  Johannes  Snedeker  offers  $10  reward  for  a  fishing-boat 
with  "  1776  "  on  her  stem,  taken  from  Remsen's  Landing,  south 
side  of  L.  I.  Game,  Aug.  4,  '83. 

952.  About  75  persons,  mostly  farmers  of  Kings  Co.,  were  in- 
dicted in  Duchess  and  Albany  Cos.,  for  adhering  to  the  British,  but 
the  prosecution  was  abandoned.  Their  names  may  be  found  in 
Gaine,  Dec.  20,  '79 ;  and  in  Riv.,  Ang.  9  and  13,  '83. 

953.  Died  at  Brooklyn,  Wednesday  last,  Pelham  Winslow,  Esq., 
son  of  late  Gen.  W.  of  Marshfield.  He  commanded  the  Mass. 
troops  in  several  expeditions  in  the  French  war. 

Riv.,  Aug.  16,  '83. 

954.  Sep.  8,  '83.  Gaine.  Saddle  horses,  w^agons,  carts,  har- 
ness, (fee,  at  auction  every  Wednesday,  at  the  wagon-yard,  Brook- 
lyn. 

955.  Q.  M.  Uloth  offers  $2  reward  for  a  bay  mare  of  60th  Reg., 
strayed  from  Bedford  camp. 

956.  John  Harrison,  Brooklyn  Ferry,  offers  one  guinea  reward 
for  a  brown  horse  stolen  from  him. 

957.  Riv.,  Aug.  27,  '83.  King's  draft  and  saddle  horses,  wag- 
ons, carts,  and  harness  for  sale  at  the  wagon-yard,  Brooklyn.  [The 
entrance  to  the  army  yard,  where  forage,  blacksmith's  shop,  «fec., 
were  kept,  was  near  the  junction  of  Main  and  Fulton  Sts. — Ed.] 

958.  £100  Reward— The  house  of  Michael  B.  Grant,  near 
Brooklyn  Church,  was  on  Friday  evening,  24th,  between  8  and  9, 
beset  by  a  gang  of  thieves,  5  of  whom  armed  with  pistols  and  cut- 
lasses, robbed  it  of  X90  cash  in  gold  and  silver,  plate  in  great  quan- 
tity, clothing,  &c.  Riv.,  Oct.  25,  '83. 

959.  £20  Reward. — Last  night,  Nov.  5,  about  8  o'clock,  4  men 
with  weapons  forced  into  the  house  of  Joliannes  Ditmars,  Flatlands , 


KINGS    COUNTY.  201 

and  beat  him  and  his  mother  in  a  cruel  manner.  Through  his  re- 
sentment, three  of  them  went  off;  the  fourth  was  put  in  Flatbush 
jail,  but  escaped  the  same  night  wounded  in  the  head,  and  said  his 
name  was  Jos.  Mosier.  Gaine,  Nov.  8,  '83. 

960.  $5  Reward. — Ran  away  from  Henry  Stanton,  Nov.  8,  '83, 
Jesse,  a  negro  boy — has  a  great  turn  at  whistling.  Gaine. 

961.  Doubtless  there  are  many  incidents  of  the  revolution  that 
are  forgotten.  The  following  among  others  have  been  recorded  by 
Gen.  Johnson  :  "  A  Mrs.  Lott,  of  Flatlands,  was  wantonly  shot  by  a 
soldier  while  sitting  in  her  window ;  three  men  of  the  33d  Reg., 
(under  Col.  Webster,  quartered  at  Lambert  Suydam's,)  had  killed 
one  of  his  cattle,  and  were  skinning  it,  when  he  shot  the  three  with 
one  discharge  of  buckshot ;  two  were  killed  in  Bushwick ;  three  in 
Newtown  ;  one  killed  at  a  shanty,  by  a  man  named  Cypher,  near  the 
Half-way  house. 

Lt.  Sam'l  Dodge,  Capts.  Gilleland  and  Mott,  (taken  at  Ft.  Mont- 
gomery,) were  stationed  at  B.  Johnson's.  Dodge  was  exchanged  in 
a  month,  and  reported  the  practicability  of  borrowing  specie  from 
Whigs  in  Kings  Co..  for  the  use  of  the  State,  and  mentioned  B.  J. 
who  v.-ould  hazard  all  in  the  undertaking.  It  was  agreed  that  conji- 
deniial  officers  should  be  exchanged,  who  were  to  act  as  agents  in 
the  transactions.  Col.  Wm.  Ellison  was  fixed  upon  to  receive  the 
loan.  He  was  exchanged  in  Nov.  '77,  and  carried  $2,000  in  gold  to 
Gov.  Clinton  ;  a  simple  receipt  was  given.  Before  '82,  large  sums 
had  been  loaned.  Major  H.  Wyckoff  was  hid  two  days,  in  1780, 
at  Rem  A.  Remsen's,  Wallebocht,  in  the  upper  room,  while  the 
Lieut,  of  the  guard  of  the  Jersey  was  quartered  in  the  house.  Rem- 
sen  loaned  him  as  much  as  he  could  carry,  and  conveyed  him  in  a 
sleigh  at  night  to  Cow  Neck.  Thence  he  crossed  to  Poughkeepsie. 
(See  Queens  Co.,  316.) 

962.  May  20,  '84.  Ran  away  from  Jeromus  Lott,  Flatlands,  a 
negro  boy  Jack,  1 6  years  old  ;  had  on  an  iron  collar  marked  J.  L. 

963.  £20  Reward. — Seven  men  surrounded  the  house  of  Peter 
Neefus  and  Joseph  Vonck,  of  Flatbush,  Saturday  night,  Nov.  20, 
'84,  made  them  prisoners,  carried  off  £120  cash,  5  large  silver 
spoons,  4  silver  salts,  a  silver  punch-strainer,  9  teaspoons,  a  silver 
watch,  2  gold  rings,  a  silver-mounted  sword,  and  pocket-pistol.  A 
free  pardon  to  the  informers. 


202  CELEBRATION    OF    PEACE. 

Bushwick,  Kings  Co.,  Nov.  25,  '83. 
964.  This  day  their  Excellencies  Gov.  Clinton  and  Gen.  Wash- 
ington, with  part  of  the  American  army,  took  possession  of  the  city 
of  N.  Y. :  on  the  occasion,  a  number  of  gentlemen  of  this  township 
met  and  appointed  Dec.  2d  as  the  day,  and  the  banks  of  the  East 
River,  in  full  view  of  the  city,  as  a  place  of  rejoicing,  and  sent  an 
address  and  invitation  to  Washington. 

To  His  Excellency  GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  Esq., 
General  and  Commander-in-chief  of  the  armies  of  the 
United  States  of  America, 

The  ADDRESS  of  the  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants 
of  Kings  Co.,  on  Nassau  Island,  in  the  State  of  N. 
Y.,  who  are  attached  to  the  freedom  and  independ- 
ence of  America. 

With  hearts  full  of  duty  and  acknowledgment  to  the  Su- 
preme Director  of  all  human  events,  and  with  the  most  pro- 
found respect  for  your  Excellency,  we  beg  leave  to  present 
you  our  sincere  congratulations,  on  this  glorious  and  ever 
memorable  era,  of  the  sovereignty  and  independence  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  sanctioned  by  the  Definitive 
Treaty,  and  the  evacuation  of  the  city  of  N.  Y. ;  your  Ex- 
cellency's entry  into  which,  with  his  Excellency  Gov.  Clin- 
ton, was  with  such  dignity,  order,  and  regulation,  as  will  re- 
dound to  the  lasting  honor  of  your  Excellency,  be  revered  by 
foreign  powers,  and  certainly  obtain  the  affection  of  many 
whose  sentiments  are  averse  to  that  liberty  which  with  the 
divine  assistance  your  Excellency  has  so  happily  acquired 
for  us.  Our  unfeigned  prayers  will  ever  be  for  your  health 
and  happiness,  whether  you  retire  to  the  private  paths  of 
peace,  or  hereafter  may  be  called  to  move  in  the  busy  scenes 
of  war,  in  the  defence  of  your  country.  With  sincere  af- 
fection, equal  duty  and  respect,  we  humbly  beg  leave  to 


KINGS   COUNTY.  203 

subscribe  ourselves,  in  behalf  of  the  freeholders  and  inhabit- 
ants aforesaid.  Your  Excellency's  very  obedient, 

and  very  humble  servants, 

Philip  Nagel,  Jeremias  Vanderbelt,     Cornelius  Wykoff, 

Johannes  Bergen,      Barent  Lefferts,  Abraham  Luquer, 

John  Titus,  Abraham  Voorhies,       Elias  Hubbard, 

R.  Van  Brunt,  Stephen  Van  Voorhies,  Adrian  Van  Brunt, 

Johannes  Covenhoven. 

To  which  His  Excellency  was  pleased  to  return  the  following 
answer : 

To  the  FREEHOLDERS  AND  INHABITANTS  of  Kingi. 
Co.,  on  Nassau  Island^  in  the  State  of  New- York,  who  are 
attached  to  the  freedom  and  independence  of  America. 

Gentlemen  : — 

While  you  speak  the  language  of  my  heart,  in  acknowledging 
the  magnitude  of  our  obligations  to  the  Supreme  Director  of  all  hu- 
man events,  suffer  me  to  join  you  in  the  celebration  of  the  present 
glorious  and  ever  memorable  era,  and  to  return  my  best  thanks  for 
your  kind  expressions  in  my  favor.  I  cannot  but  rejoice  sincerely, 
that  the  national  dignity  and  glory  will  be  greatly  increased,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  good  order  and  regularity  which  has  prevailed  univer- 
sally, since  the  city  of  N.  Y.  has  been  repossessed  by  us.  This  con- 
duct exhibits  to  the  world  a  noble  instance  of  magnanimity,  and  will 
doubtless  convince  any  who,  from  ignorance  or  prejudice,  may  have 
been  of  a  different  sentiment,  that  the  laws  do  govern,  and  that  the 
civil  magistrates  are  worthy  of  the  highest  respect  and  confidence. 
For  my  own  part.  Gentlemen,  in  whatever  situation  of  life  I  shall  be 
hereafter,  my  supplications  will  ever  ascend  to  heaven  for  the  pros- 
perity of  my  country  in  general,  and  for  the  individual  happiness  of 
those  who  are  attached  to  the  freedom  and  independence  of  America. 

GEO.  WASHINGTON. 

N.  Y.,  Dec.  1,  '83. 

Celebration  of  the  Peace  at  Bushwick,  Dec.  2,  1783. 

The  day  was  ushered  in  by  hoisting  the  American  flag,  and  fir- 
ing a  salute  :  an  ox  was  roasted,  and  an  entertainment  provided  to 
welcome  their  brethren,  who  have  suffered  seven  years'  exile,  and 


204  CELEBRATION    OF    PEACE. 

who  liave  sacrificed  their  all  at  the  shrine  of  liberty.  After  they  had 
all  partook  of  the  feast,  the  following  toasts  were  drank,  attended  by 
a  salute,  huzzaing,  and  music. 

1.  The  United  States  of  America. 

2.  His  most  Christian  Majesty. 

3.  The  States  of  Holland. 

4.  May  the  State  of  N.  Y.  be  entirely  abandoned  by  her  enemies. 
6.  His  Excellency  Gov.  Clinton. 

6.  His  Excellency  Gen'l  Washington. 

7.  The  Hon.  the  Council. 

8.  The  Hon.  the  House  of  Assembly. 

9.  Prosperity  and  honor  to  the  sons  of  Liberty. 

10.  May  the  memory  of  those  who  have  fallen  in  the  cause  of 
America,  be  ever  precious  to  her  sons. 

11.  A  free  and  extensive  trade. 

12.  Success  to  agriculture. 

13.  As  the  roaring  of  a  lion  is  to  animals,  so  may  the  frowns  of 
America  be  to  princes. 

The  day  was  spent  in  the  greatest  good  humor,  decency,  and  de- 
corum. Every  countenance  displayed  in  the  most  lively  manner,  the 
joy  and  gratitude  of  their  hearts  upon  this  most  happy  and  important 
event ;  and  what  added  to  the  cheerfulness  of  the  day,  was  the  once 
more  beholding  the  metropolis  of  this  State,  emerging  from  that 
scene  of  ruin  and  distress,  which  it  has  severely  experienced,  during 
the  late  contest,  from  a  cruel,  unrelenting,  and  insulting  foe. 


INCIDENTS 


BRITISH  PRISONS  AND  PRISON-SHIPS  AT 
NEW-YORK. 


10 


'  Let  the  dark  Scorhon's  hulk  narrate 

The  dismal  tale  of  English  hate  ; 

Her  horrid  scenes  let  Jersey  tell, 

And  mock  the  shades  where  demons  dwell : 

There  shrieks  of  pain,  and  dying  groan, 

Unheeded  fell  on  ears  of  stone." 

J.  M.  Scott. 


BRITISH  PRISONS  AND  PRISON-SHIPS. 


British  Prisons  in  Neio-  York,  during  the  Revolutionary  War, 

[The  British  took  possession  of  New-York,  Sept.  15,  1776 ;  and 
the  capture  of  Fort  Washington,  Nov.  16,  threw  nearly  2700  pris- 
oners in  their  power.  To  these  must  be  added  over  1000  taken  at 
the  battle  of  Brooklyn,  and  such  private  citizens  as  were  arrested  for 
their  political  principles  in  the  vicinity  of  New-York  city  and  on 
Long  Island  :  and  we  may  safely  conclude  that  Sir  William  Howe 
had  at  least  5000  prisoners  to  provide  for.  The  sudden  influx  of  so 
many  prisoners,  the  recent  capture  of  the  city,  and  the  unlocked  for 
conflagration  of  a  fourth  part  of  it,  threw  his  affairs  into  such  con- 
fusion, that,  from  those  circumstances  alone,  the  prisoners  must  have 
suffered  much,  from  want  of  food  and  other  bodily  comforts ;  but 
there  was  superadded  the  studied  cruelty  of  Capt.  Cunningham,  the 
Provost  Marshal,  and  his  deputies,  and  the  criminal  neghgence  of  Sir 
Wm.  Howe.  To  contain  such  a  vast  number  of  prisoners,  the  or- 
dinary places  of  confinement  were  insufficient.  Accordingly  the 
Brick  Church,  the  Middle  Dutch  and  the  North  Dutch  Churches 
were  appropriated  to  their  use.  Besides  these,  Columbia  College, 
the  Sugar  House,  the  New  Jail,  the  new  Bridewell,  and  flle  Old 
City  Hall,  were  filled  to  their  utmost  capacity. 

Till  within  a  few  years,  the  Sugar  House  stood  in  Liberty-street, 
south  of  the  Middle  Dutch  Church,  a  dark  stone  building,  with  small 
deep,  port-hole  looking  windows,  rising  tier  above  tier,  exhibiting  a 
dungeon-like  aspect.  It  was  five  stories  high ;  and  each  story  was 
divided  into  two  dreary  apartments.  On  the  stones  and  bricks  in  the 
wall  were  to  be  seen  initials  and  dates,  as  if  done  with  a  prisoner's 
penknife  or  nail.     There  was  a  strong,  jail-like  door  opening  on 


208  INCIDENTS    OF    THE   BRITISH    PRISONS 

Liberty-street,  and  another  on  the  southeast,  descending  into  a  dis- 
mal cellar,  also  used  as  a  prison.  There  was  a  walk  nearly  broad 
enough  for  a  cart  to  travel  around  it,  where,  night  aad  day,  two 
British  or  Hessian  guards  walked  their  weary  rounds.  The  yard 
was  surrounded  by  a  close  board  fence,  nine  feet  high.  "  In  the  suffo- 
cating heat  of  summer,"  says  Wm.  Dunlap,  "  I  saw  every  narrow 
aperture  of  those  stone  walls  filled  with  human  heads,  face  above  face, 
seeking  a  portion  of  the  external  air."  While  the  jail-fever  was 
raging,  in  the  summer  of  1777,  the  prisoners  were  let  out,  in  com- 
panies of  20,  for  half  an  hour  at  a  time,  to  breathe  fresh  air  ;  and  in- 
side they  were  so  crowded,  that  they  divided  their  numbers  into  squads 
of  6  each.  No.  1  stood  ten  minutes  as  close  to  the  window  as  they 
could  crowd,  and  then  No.  2  took  their  places ;  and  so  on.  Seats  there 
were  none ;  and  their  beds  were  but  straw,  intermixed  with  vermin. 
For  many  weeks  the  dead-cart  visited  the  prison  every  morning, 
into  which  eight  to  twelve  corpses  were  flung  and  piled  up,  hke  sticks 
of  wood,  and  dumped  into  ditches  in  the  outskirts  of  the  city. 

The  North  Dutch  Church,  comer  of  William  and  Fulton-streets, 
was  made  to  hold  800  prisoners ;  its  pews  were  ripped  out,  and  used 
for  fuel  probably ;  its  mahogany  pulpit  was  sent  to  London,  and  put 
in  a  chapel  there,  and  a  floor  laid  across  from  one  gallery  to  the 
other.  Bayonet  marks  are  yet  discernible  on  the  pillars  ;  and  those 
walls,  that  had  reverberated  with  the  praises  of  the  Most  High,  now 
resounded  with  curses  and  blasphemy. 

The  Middle  Dutch  Church  (now  the  Post  Office)  was  at  first 
used  as  a  prison.  Mr.  John  Pintard  (an  assistant  to  his  uncle  Lewis 
Pintard,  who  was  appointed  by  Congress  to  look  after  the  prisoners) 
says,  "  In  the  Middle  Dutch  Church  the  prisoners  taken  on  Long 
Island  and  at  Fort  Washington,  sick,  wounded  and  well,  were  all 
indiscriminately  huddled  togother,  by  hundreds  and  thousands ;  large 
numbers  of  whom  died  by  disease — and  many  undoubtedly  poisoned 
by  inhuman  attendants,  for  the  sake  of  their  watches  or  silver  buckles." 
Soon  afterwards  it  was  turned  into  a  riding-school,  to  train  dragoon 
horses.  The  floor  was  taken  up,  and  the  ground  covered  with  tan 
bark.  A  pole  ran  across  the  middle,  for  the  horses  to  leap  over. 
The  glass  was  taken  from  the  windows,  and  the  shutters  unhung. 
The  church  was  left  in  this  ruinous  condition  till  1790,  when  we  read 
in  Greenleaf 's  Paper  of  July  Cth,  that  "  On  Sunday  last,  the  new 
Dutch  Church  was  re-dedicated  to  the  King  of  kings.     The  Rev. 


AND    PRISON-SHIPS    AT    NEW-YORK.  200- 

Dr.  Livingston  preacbed  from  Ex.  xx.  24.  It  had  been  prostituted  to 
horse-schooling  while  the  British  had  possession  of  the  city,  thus 
turning  the  House  of  God  into  a  den  of  thieves." 

The  Brick  Church  (Dr.  Spring's]  was  at  first  a  prison,  but  soon 
it,  and  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Wall-street,  the  Scotch  Church 
[Dr.  Mason's] ,  in  Cedar-street,  and  the  Friends'  Meeting  House, 
were  converted  into  hospitals.  At  the  Peace,  in  1783,  there  was  no 
Presbyterian  church  fit  to  preach  in,  so  that  Dr.  Rogers  delivered  his 
famous  Thanksgiving  Sermon  in  St.  Paul's  Chapel.  The  French 
Church,  in  Pine-street,  was  a  storehouse  for  ordnance  stores. 

Columbia  College  was  used  as  a  prison  only  a  short  time,  proba- 
bly. One  of  Capt  Vandyke's  grenadiers  saw  the  great  fife,  Sept. 
21,  1776,  from  its  windows. 

The  New  Bridewell,  between  the  present  City  Hall  and  Broad- 
way, was  for  a  time  used  as  a  prison  for  American  soldiers.  Oliver 
Woodruff,  who  recently  died  at  the  age  of  90,  was  taken  prisoner  at 
Fort  Washington,  and  has  left  the  following  record  of  his  confine- 
ment here  : — "  We  were  marched  to  New-York,  and  went  into  differ- 
ent prisons — 816  went  into  the  New  Bridewell,  I  among  the  rest ; 
some  into  the  Sugar  House ;  others  into  the  Dutch  Church.  On 
Thursday  morning  they  brought  us  a  little  provision,  which  was  the 
first  morsel  we  got  to  cat  or  drink  after  eating  our  breakfast  on  Sat- 
urday morning.  We  never  drew  as  much  provision  for  three  days' 
allowance  as  a  man  would  eat  at  a  common  meal.  I  was  there  three 
months  during  that  inclement  season,  and  never  saw  any  fire,  except 
what  was  in  the  lamps  of  the  city.  There  was  not  a  pane  of  glass 
in  the  windows,  and  nothing  to  keep  out  the  cold  except  the  iron 
grates." 

The  old  City  Hall  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  Custom  House, 
and  was  converted  into  a  guard-house  for  the  main  guard  of  the  city. 
It  had  dungeons  and  prisons  below ;  and  a  court-room  on  the  second 
floor,  where  the  refugee  clergy  preached  during  the  latter  part  of  the 
war.  At  first,  civil  offenders  were  confined  here  ;  but  subsequently 
whaleboatmen  and  robbers. 

The  New  Jail,  or  "  the  Provost  [now  the  Hall  of  Records]  was 
destined,"  says  Pintard,  "  for  the  more  notorious  rebels,  civil,  naval 
and  military.  An  admission  into  this  modem  bastile,  was  enough  to 
appal  the  stoutest  heart.  On  the  right  hand  of  the  main  door  was 
Capt.  Cunningham's  quarters ;  opposite  to  which  was  the  guard-room 


210  INCIDENTS   OF   THE    BRITISH    PRISONS 

Within  the  first  barricade  was  Sergeant  O'Keefe's  apartment.     At 
the  entrance  door  two  sentinels  were  always  posted,  by  day  and  night. 
Two  more  at  the  1st  and  2d  barricades,  which  were  grated,  barred 
and  chained  ;  also,  at  the  rear  door,  and  on  the  platform  at  the  grated 
door,  at  the  foot  of  the  second  flight  of  steps,  leading  to  the  rooms 
and  cells  in  the  second  and  third  stories.     When  a  prisoner,  escorted 
by  soldiers,  was  led  into  the  hall,  the  whole  guard  was  paraded,  and 
he  was  delivered  over  with  all  formality  to  Capt.  Cunningham  or  his 
deputy,  and  questioned  as  to  his  name,  rank,  size,  age,  &.C.,  all  of 
which  were  entered  in  a  record  book.     What  with  the  bristling  of 
arms,  unbolting  of  bars  and  locks,  clanking  of  enormous  iron  chains, 
and  a  vestibule  dark  as  Erebus,  the  unfortunate  captive  might  well 
shrink  under  this  infernal  sight  and  parade  of  tyrannical  power,  as  he 
crossed  the  threshold  of  that  door  which  possibly  closed  on  liim  for 
life.     The  northeast  chamber,  turning  to  the  left,  on  the  second 
floor,  was  appropriated  to  officers,  and  characters  of  superior  rank, 
and  was  called  Congress  Hall.     So  closely  were  they  packed,  that 
when  they  lay  down  at  night  to  rest,  when  their  bones  ached  on  the 
hard  oak  planks,  and  they  wished  to  turn,  it  was  altogether  by  word 
of  command,  "  right — Z^//,"  being  so  wedged  as  to  form  almost  a  solid 
mass  of  human  bodies.     In  the  day-time  the  packs  and  blankets  of 
the  prisoners  were  suspended  around  the  walls,  every  precaution  be- 
ing used  to  keep  the  rooms  ventilated,  and  the  walls  and  floors  clean, 
to  prevent  jail-fever,  and  as  the  Provost  was  generally  crowded  with 
American  prisoners  or  British  culprits  of  every  description,  it  is  really 
wonderful  that  infection  never  broke  out  within  its  walls.     In  this 
gloomy  abode  were  incarcerated  at  different  periods,  many  American 
officers  and  citizens  of  distinction,  awaiting  with  sickening  hope,  the 
protracted  period  of  their  liberation.     Could  these  dumb  walls  speak, 
what  scenes  of  angush  might  they  not  disclose  !     The  Captain  and 
his  Deputy  were  enabled  to  fare  sumptuously,  by  dint  of  curtailing 
the  prisoners'  rations,  exchanging  good  for  bad  provisions,  and  other 
embezzlements.     In  the  drunken  orgies  that  usually  terminated  his 
dinners,  Cunningham  would  order  the  rebel  prisoners  to  turn  out  and 
parade  for  the  amusement  of  his  guests,  pointing  them  out :  "  this  is 

the  d d  rebel.  Col.  Ethan  Allen,"  "that  is  a  rebel  judge,"  &c. 

The  other  prisons  were  cleared  at  or  before  the  close  of  hostili- 
ties, but  the  Provost  and  Old  City  Hall  were  continued  as  prisons 
till  Evacuation  Day.     "  I  was  in  New-York,  Nov.  26th,"  says  Gen. 


AND    PRISON-SHIPS   AT    NEW-YORK.  211 

Johnson,  "  and  at  the  Provost  about  ten  o'clock,  A.  M., — a  few  British 
criminals  were  yet  in  custody,  and  O'Keefe  threw  his  ponderous 
bunch  of  keys  on  the  floor  and  retired, — when  an  American  guard 
relieved  the  British  guard,  which  joined  a  detachment  of  British  troops, 
then  on  parade  in  Broadway,  and  marched  down  to  the  Battery, 
where  they  embarked  for  England."] — Ed. 

Robt.  Troup,  late  Lt.  in  Col.  Lasher's  battalion,  says  he,  Lt.  Ed. 
Dunscomb,  Adj.  Hoogland,  and  two  volunteers  were  made  prisoners 
by  a  detachment  of  British  troops,  3  o'clock  A.  M.,  Aug.  27,  '76. 
They  were  carried  before  the  Generals,  interrogated  and  threatened 
to  be  hung.  Thence  they  were  led  to  a  house  near  Flatbush.  At 
9  A.  M.,  they  were  led  in  rear  of  the  army  to  Bedford.  18  officers 
taken  that  morning  were  confined  in  a  small  soldiers'  tent  for  tv/o 
nights  and  near  three  days — it  raining  most  of  the  time  ;  60  privates 
also  had  but  one  tent,  while  at  Bedford  the  Provost  Marshall,  Cun- 
ningham, brought  with  him  a  negro  with  a  halter,  telling  them  the 
negro  had  already  hung  several,  and  he  imagined  he  would  hang 
some  more.  The  negro  &.  C,  also  insulted  the  prisoners,  showing 
them  the  halter,  and  with  the  officers  and  soldiers  calling  them  rebels, 
scoundrels,  robbers,  murderers,  &c.  From  Bedford  they  were  led 
to  Flatbush,  and  confined  a  week  in  Mr.  Leffert's  house,  on  short 
allowance  of  biscuit  and  salt  pork.  Several  Hessian  soldiers  took 
pity  on  them,  and  gave  them  apples,  and  once  fresh  beef.  From 
Flatbush,  after  a  week,  he  with  70  or  80  officers,  was  put  on  board 
a  snow  lying  between  Gravesend  and  the  Hook,  without  bedding  or 
blankets,  afflicted  with  lice  and  other  vermin,  soap  and  fresh  water 
for  washing,  being  refused  them.  They  drank  and  cooked  with 
filthy  water  brought  from  England.  The  Captain  charged  a  very 
large  commission  for  purchasing  necessaries  for  them  with  the  money 
they  procured  from  their  friends.  From  the  snow,  after  6  weeks, 
(Oct.  17,)  they  were  carried  to  N.  Y.,  and  confined  in  a  house  near 
Bridewell.  At  first,  they  were  not  allowed  any  fuel,  and  afterwards, 
only  a  little  coal  for  3  days  in  the  week.  Provisions  dealt  out  very 
negligently,  scanty  and  of  bad  quality;  and  from  the  bad  health  of 
the  prisoners,  most  would  have  died  had  they  not  been  supported  by 
poor  people  and  common  prostitutes,  who  took  pity  on  them.  Shortly 
after  the  capture  of  Fort  Washington,  the  above  prisoners  were  al- 
lowed to  walk  about  the  city. — Nearly  one  half  of  the  prisoners 
taken  on  L.  I.,  have  died.     The  privates  being  treated  with  great 


212  INCIDENTS    OF    THE    BRITISH    PRISONS 

inhumanity,  without  fuel  or  the  common  necessaries  of  hfe,  and  were 
obhged  to  obey  the  calls  of  nature  in  their  places  of  confinement. 

Cor.  411. 

The  British  hung  no  one  of  the  prisoners  of  Aug.  27,  but  played 
the  fool  by  making  them  ride  with  a  rope  around  their  necks,  seated 
on  coffins,  to  the  gallows.     Otho  H.  Williams,  was  treated  so. 

Thatcher,  p.  77. 

Adolph  Myer,  late  of  Col.  Lasher's  bat.,  says  he  was  taken  by 
the  British,  at  Montresor's  Island. — They  threatened  twice  to  hang 
him,  and  had  a  rope  fixed  to  a  tree.  He  was  led  to  Gen.  Howe's 
quarters,  (Jas.  Beekman's)  near  Turtle  Bay,  who  ordered  him  pin- 
ioned. He  was  confined  4  days  on  bread  and  water,  in  the  condemned 
hole  of  the  New  Jail,  without  bedding  or  straw.  He  was  next  put 
in  the  College,  and  then  in  the  New  Dutch  Church,  whence  he  es- 
caped, Jan.  24,  '77.  He  was  treated  with  great  inhumanity,  and 
would  have  died,  had  he  not  been  supported  by  his  friends.  The 
allowance  was  one  loaf  for  6  days,  of  the  bread  left  on  the  evacua- 
tion of  N.  Y.,  (and  which  had  been  made  for  an  allowance  of  3  days), 
one  quart  of  pease,  half  a  pint  of  rice,  and  one  and  a  half  pounds  of 
pork,  for  6  days.  Many  prisoners  died  from  want,  and  others  were 
reduced  to  such  wretchedness  as  to  attract  the  compassion  of  com- 
mon prostitutes,  from  whom  they  received  considerable  assistance. 
No  care  w^as  taken  of  the  sick,  and  if  any  died,  they  were  thrown  at 
the  door  of  the  prison,  and  lay  there  till  next  day,  when  they  were 
put  on  a  cart  and  drawn  out  to  the  intrenchments,  beyond  the  Jews' 
burial  ground,  when  they  were  interred  by  their  fellow-prisoners, 
conducted  thither  for  that  purpose.  The  dead  were  thrown  into  a 
hole  promiscuously,  without  the  usual  rites  of  sepulture.  Myer  was 
frequently  enticed  to  enlist.  Cor.  412. 

Gaine,  Nov.  25,  '76.  There  are  now  5,000  prisoners  in  town, 
many  of  them  half  naked.  Congress  desert  the  poor  wretches — 
have  sent  them  neither  provisions  nor  clothing,  nor  paid  attention  to 
their  distress,  or  that  of  their  families.  Tiieir  situation  must  have 
been  doubly  deplorable,  but  for  the  humanity  of  the  King's  officers. 
Every  possible  attention  has  been  given,  considering  their  great 
numbers  and  necessary  confinement,  to  alleviate  their  distress  arising 
from  guilt,  sickness  and  poverty. 


AND    PRISON-SHIPS    AT    NEW-YORK.  213 

Sergeant  Hubert  offers  a  reward  for  three  prisoners  who  broke 
from  New  Jail. 

N.  London,  Nov,  8,  '76.  Yesterday  arrived  E.  Thomas,  captured 
Sep.  1,  carried  to  N.  Y.,  and  put  on  board  the  Chatham.  He  es- 
caped Wednesday  se'nnight. 

Nov.  20,  '76.  American  officers  (prisoners  on  parole)  were 
walking  about  the  streets,  but  soldiers  were  closely  confined  and  had 
but  half  allowance,  sickly  and  died  fast. 

N.  London,  Nov.  29,  '76.  A  cartel  arrived  here  for  exchange  of 
seamen  only.  Prisoners  had  miserable  confinement  in  store-ships 
and  transports,  suffering  for  want  of  the  common  necessaries  of  life. 

Whitby  Prison  ship,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  9,  '76.  Our  present  situation 
is  most  wretched  ;  more  than  250  prisoners,  some  sick,  and  without 
the  least  assistance  from  physician,  drug  or  medicine,  and  fed  on  two- 
thirds  allowance  of  salt  provisions,  and  crowded  promiscuously  with- 
out regard  to  color,  person  or  office,  in  the  small  room  of  a  ship  be- 
tween decks,  allowed  to  walk  the  main  deck  only  from  sunrise  to 
sunset.  Only  2  at  a  time  allowed  to  come  on  deck  to  do  what  na- 
ture requires,  and  sometimes  denied  even  that,  and  use  tubs  and 
buckets  between  decks,  to  the  great  offence  of  every  delicate  cleanly 
person,  and  prejudice  of  all  our  healths.  Lord  Howe  has  liberated 
all  in  the  merchant  service,  but  refuses  to  exchange  those  taken  in 
arms  but  for  like  prisoners.  Trumbull  Papers,  p.  76. 

Lt.  Catlin,  taken  Sep.  15,  '76,  confined  with  no  sustenance,  for 
48  hours ;  for  1 1  days,  had  only  2  days'  allowance,  pork  offensive  to 
the  smell,  bread  hard,  mouldy  and  wormy,  made  of  canail  and  dregs 
of  flax  seed  ;  water  brackish,  I  have  seen  $1,50  given  for  a  com- 
mon pail  full ;  3  or  4  lbs.  of  poor  Irish  pork  were  given  to  3  men  for 
3  days.  In  one  church  were  850  prisoners,  for  near  3  months. 
About  Dec.  25,  he  with  225  men  put  on  board  the  Glasgow,  at  N. 
Y.,  to  be  carried  to  Con't,  for  exchange.  They  were  aboard  11 
days,  and  kept  on  coarse  broken  bread  and  less  pork  than  before,  and 
had  no  fire  for  sick  or  well,  crowded  between  decks,  and  28  died 
through  ill  usage  and  cold.  Hist.  Litchfield,  p.  39. 

N.  Y.,  Dec.  26,  '76.     "  The  distress  of  the  prisoners  cannot  be 
communicated  by  words,  20  or  30  die  every  day,  they  lie  in  heaps 
unburied  ;  what  numbers  of  my  countrymen  have  died  by  cold  and 
10* 


214  INCIDENTS    OP    THE    BRITISH    PRISONS 

hunger,  perished  for  want  of  the  common  necessaries  of  life !  I 
have  seen  it.  This,  sir,  is  tlie  boasted  British  clemency  !  I  myself 
had  well  nigh  perished  under  it.  The  New  England  people  can 
have  no  idea  of  such  barbarous  policy,  nothing  can  stop  such  treat- 
ment but  retaliation.  I  ever  despised  private  revenge,  but  that  of  the 
fuhlic  must  be  in  this  case  both  just  and  necessary  ;  it  is  due  to  the 
manes  of  our  murdered  countrymen,  and  that  alone  can  protect  the 
survivors  in  the  like  situation.  Rather  than  experience  again  their 
barbarity  and  insults,  may  I  fall  by  the  sword  of  the  Hessians." 

S.  Young  says,  Dec.  15,  '76,  he  was  taken  at  Fort  Washington, 
and  with  600  was  kept  in  a  stable,  and  had  no  provisions  till  Monday 
night,  when  the  enemy  threw  in  the  stable,  in  a  confused  manner, 
as  if  to  so  many  hogs,  a  quantity  of  biscuit  in  crumbs,  mostly 
mouldy,  and  some  crawling  with  maggots,  which  the  prisoners  were 
obliged  to  scramble  for  without  any  division.  Next  day  they  had  a 
little  pork,  which  they  were  obliged  to  eat  raw.  Afterwards  they 
got  sometimes  a  bit  of  pork,  at  other  times  biscuit,  peas  and  rice. 
They  were  confined  two  weeks  in  a  church,  where  they  suffered 
greatly  with  cold,  not  being  allowed  fire.  Insulted  by  soldiers, 
women,  and  even  negroes.  Great  numbers  died,  three,  four  or  more 
sometimes  a  day.  Afterwards  they  were  carried  on  board  a  ship, 
where  500  were  confined  below  deck.  Hinman,  p.  134. 

W.  D.  says  the  prisoners  were  roughly  used  at  Harlem,  on  their 
way  from  Ft.  Washington  to  N.  York,  where  800  were  stowed  in 
the  New  Bridewell,  which  was  a  cold  open  house,  the  windows  not 
glazed.  They  had  not  one  mouthful  from  early  Saturday  morning, 
till  Monday,  rations  for  three  days  were  a  half  pound  of  biscuit,  half 
pound  pork,  half  pint  peas,  half  gill  rice,  half  ounce  of  butter, — the 
whole  enough  for  one  good  meal — and  defrauded  in  this  petty  al- 
lowance ; — no  straw  or  hay  to  lie  on — no  fuel  but  one  cartload  per 
week  for  the  800  men.  At  9  o'clock  in  the  evening  the  Hessian  guards 
would  come  in  and  put  out  the  fire,  and  lay  on  the  poor  prisoners 
with  heavy  clubs,  for  sitting  round  tlie  fire ;  water  very  bad  as  well 
as  bread  except  once,  good  biscuit,  and  once  good  baker's  bread. 
Prisoners  died  Hke  rotten  sheep,  with  cold,  hunger  and  dirt,  and  those 
who  had  good  apparel,  such  as  buckskin  breeches,  or  good  coats,  were 
necessitated  to  sell  them  to  purchase  bread  to  keep  themselves  alive. 

Lt.  Col.  Selah  Hart,  presented  to  the  Assembly  of  Connecticut 


AND   PRISON-SHIPS   AT   NEW-YORK.  215 

the  petition  of  38  Continental  officers,  prisoners  on  parole  on  L.  I., 
for  hard  money.     They  had  been  there  from  Sep.,  '76,  to  May,  '77. 

Hinman,  p.  277. 

This  may  inform  those  who  have  friends  in  N.  Y.,  prisoners  of 
war,  that  Maj.  Wells,  a  prisoner,  has  come  thence  to  Conn,  on  parole,  to 
collect  hard  money  for  the  much  distressed  and  suffering  officers  and 
soldiers  there,  and  desires  the  money  may  be  left  at  landlord  Bett's, 
Norwalk ;  Capt.  Benjamin's,  Stratford ;  landlord  Beer's,  N.  Haven ; 
Hezekiah  Wylly's,  Hartford ;  and  at  said  Wells's,  Colchester,  with 
proper  accounts  from  whom  received,  and  to  whom  to  be  delivered. 

N.  B. — The  letters  must  not  be  sealed,  nor  contain  any  thing  of 
a  political  nature.  Conn,  Paper,  Dec,  6,  '76. 

John  Rapalje  and  Miles  Sherbrook,  prisoners  in  Conn.,  (who  had 
been  sent  there  by  Washington,  Aug.  '76,  as  disaffected  persons) 
drew  a  letter  of  credit  for  £500,  in  favor  of  Maj.  Levi  Wells,  for 
the  use  of  the  Continental  troops,  then  in  captivity  in  N.  Y.,  Dec. 
13,  '76.  [They  owed  this  money  probably  for  board.  John  Ra- 
palje, with  Jas.  Coggswell,  had  been  seized  while  on  his  way  with 
sheep  for  Howe's  army.] 

Correspondence  of  Washington    and  Howe,  on   the   cruel   treatment 
of  American  prisoners,  taken  from  Spark^s  Washington. 

Dec.  20,  '76.  Washington  says  a  Commissary  of  prisoners  should  be 
appointed  ;  for  prisoners  from  all  quarters  are  pushed  in  our  camp  without 
notice.  They  are  also  travelling  all  over  the  country  with  certificates  of 
Committees,  without  control,  and  some  have  even  gone  in  the  enemy's 
canip. 

Washington  writes  to  Howe,  Jan.  13,  '77,  on  the  cruel  treatment 
of  prisoners  in  the  Ships  at  N.Y.  "  I  hope  the  miseries  of  cold,  disease, 
and  famine,  may  not  be  added  to  their  •ther  misfortunes.  You  may  call 
us  rebels,  and  say  we  deserve  no  better  treatment,  but  remember  we  have 
feelings  keen  and  sensible,  as  loyalists,  and  will  retaHate  on  the  unjust 
invaders  of  our  rights,  liberties,  and  properties.  My  injured  countrymen 
have  long  called  on  me  to  obtain  redress  of  their  grievances.  I  am 
sorry  I  am  again  under  the  necessity  of  remonstrating  to  you  on  the 
treatment,  which  our  prisoners  continue  to  receive  in  N.  Y.  Those  who 
have  lately  been  sent  out,  giving  the  most  shocking  accounts  of 
their  barbarous  usage,  which  their  miserable  emaciated  countenances 
confirm.     If  a  real   scarcity  of  provisions  and  fuel,  at  this  inclement 


216  INCIDENTS    OF    THE    BRITISH    PRISONS 

season,  is  the  cause  that  our  prisoners  are  debarred  from  them,  common 
humanity  points  out  a  mode,  which  is,  to  suffer  them  to  go  home  under 
parole,  not  to  serve  during  the  war,  or  until  an  equal  number  are  re- 
leased by  us.  Most  of  the  prisoners  who  have  returned  home,  have  in- 
formed me  they  were  offered  better  treatment,  provided  they  would  en- 
list in  your  service. 

[Wm.  Gamble  deposes,  (Conn.  Gaz.,  Feb.  8,  '77,)  that  prisoners 
were  huddled  together  with  negroes  ;  had  weak  grog  ;  no  swab  to  clean 
the  ship  ;  bad  oil ;  raw  pork  ;  seamen  refused  them  water  ;  called  them 

d d  rebels  ;  dead  not  buried,  &c.     Lt.  Wm.  Sterret, taken  Aug.  27, 

his  clothing  stolen  ;  abused  by  soldiers  ;  stinted  in  food  ;  slight  wounds 
became  mortal  by  neglect ;  recruiting  officers  seduced  prisoners,  &c. 
—Ed.] 

Howe  replies  to  Washington,  Jan.  \l,m.  That  Capt.  Gamble's  re- 
port is  exaggerated.  The  prisoners  were  confined  with  the  more  general 
liberty  of  the  prison  ship,  till  a  successful  attempt  was  made  to  escape. 
The  rest  were  then  restrained  within  such  narrow  limits  as  left  the 
more  commanding  parts  of  the  ship  in  possession  of  the  guard.  Provi- 
sions were  the  same  as  given  to  British  sailors  ;  the  want  of  cleanliness  is 
owing  to  the  prisoners,  who  have  had  constant  attendance  of  a  surgeon 
and  medicines  from  the  King's  store.  The  fleet  physician  has  also  attend- 
ed and  prescribed,  7  have  died  of  500  sufferers.  The  prisoners  petitioned 
for  enlargement,  but  did  not  complain  of  ill  treatment.  The  prisoners 
from  different  Provinces,  were  set  free  in  separate  corps,  in  compassion 
to  their  unnvoidable  sufferings,  and  the  confined  situation  of  the  fleet 
and  army.  104  not  taken  in  arms,  were  landed  in  Conn,  last  month, 
38  landed  in  Penn.,  30  set  free  here. 

Jan.  20,  '77.  Washington  proposes  Lewis  Pintard,  a  merchant  of  N. 
Y.,  to  reside  there  as  an  agent  for  prisoners. 

Ap.  21,  77.  Howe  (in  rejjly^o  Washington  of  9th  inst.)  says  all  pri- 
soners are  confined  in  the  most  airy  buildings,  and  largest  transports, 
being  the  healthiest  places.  Near  half  the  prisoners  were  received  in 
British  hospitals,  and  their  own  surgeons  without  restriction  supplied 
with  medicines,  till  they  disposed  of  large  quantities  at  private  sale. 
Clothing  and  money  are  all  the  prisoners  want. 

May  17,  '77.  Washington  disapproves  of  Gen.  Parson's  proposition 
of  a  descent  on  Flatbush,  to  release  American  officers,  prisoners  there 
on  parole.  [The  British  in  apprehension  of  a  rescue,  had  removed  the 
American  officers  to  close  prison  in  N.  Y. — Ed.] 


AND   PEISON-SHIPS    AT    NEW-YORK.  217 

May  28,  '77.  Washington  says  a  great  proportion  of  prisoners  sent 
out  by  British  are  not  fit  subjects  of  exchange,  and  being  made  so  by  the 
severity  of  their  treatment  and  confinement,  a  deduction  should  be  made. 

June  10,  '77.  Washington  says  (in  a  long  reply  to  Howe,)  he  gave 
clothing  to  British  prisoners ;  did  not  hear  of  the  sufferings  of  Ame- 
rican prisoners  till  too  late ;  he  was  refused  a  procuring  agent  at  N.  Y. 
to  purchase  what  was  necessary  to  supply  the  prisoners'  wants. 

Nov.  14,  '77.  Washington  complains  to  Howe  of  cruelties  exercised 
on  American  prisoners,  without  Howe's  knowledge  or  approbation, 
proceeding  from  the  inhumanity  of  Mr.  Cunningham,  Provost   Marshal. 

Nov.  23,  '77.  Washington  threatens  retaliation,  if  Howe  does  not 
accede  to  his  letter  of  Nov.  14,  '77,  and  was  about  giving  orders  to 
Boudinot,  when  he  received  Howe's  letter  of  Nov.  27. 

Mrs.  White  left  N.  Y.,  Jan.  20,  '77,  says  Bridewell,  College, 
New  Jail,  Baptist  Meeting,  and  the  tavern  lately  occupied  by  Mr. 
De  la  Montaigne,  and  several  other  houses,  are  filled  with  sick  and 
wounded  of  the  enemy.  Gen.  Lee  was  under  guard,  in  a  small 
mean-looking  house,  at  the  bottom  of  Kings  street.         Jour.  759. 

Wm.  Slade  says  800  prisoners  taken  at  Ft.  Washington  and 
Lee,  were  put  in  the  North  hurch.  Dec.lst,  300  were  taken  from 
the  church  to  the  prison  ship.  jDec.  2d,  he  with  others  was  march- 
ed to  the  Grosvenor  transport  in  the  N.  River  ;  500  were  crowded 
on  board ;  he  had  to  lay  down  before  sunset  to  secure  a  place. 

Trumbull  Papers,  VIL  135. 

Henry  Franklin  affirms,  Jan.  16,  '77,  that  about  two  days  after 
the  taking  of  Fort  Washington,  he  was  in  N.  Y.,  and  went  to  the 
North  Church,  in  which  were  about  800  prisoners  taken  in  said  Fort. 
He  inquired  into  their  treatment,  and  they  told  him  they  fared  hard 
on  account  both  of  provisions  and  lodging,  for  they  were  not  allowed 
any  bedding  or  blankets,  and  the  provision  not  been  regularly  dealt 
out,  the  modest  and  backward  could  get  little  or  none,  nor  had  they 
been  allowed  any  fuel  to  dress  their  victuals.  The  prisoners  in 
N.  Y.  were  very  sickly,  and  died  in  considerable  numbers. 

Cor.  411. 

Joshua  Loring,  Commissary  of  prisoners,  says,  but  little  pro- 
visions had  been  sent  in  by  the  rebels  for  their  prisoners. 

Feb.  11, '77. 


218  INCIDENTS    OF   THE    BRITISH    PRISONS 

Forty-six  prisoners  from  the  Glasgow,  transport  ship,  were  land- 
ed at  N.  Haven,  where  Capt.  Craige  died,  and  was  buried.  Their 
names  are  published  in  Con't  Courant.  March  7,  '77. 

Ap.  30,  '77.  Con't  Assembly  sent  to  N.Y.  a  sufficient  quantity  of 
tow  shirts  and  trowsers  for  her  prisoners,  also  £35  to  Col.  Ethan 
Allen,  by  his  brother  Levi. 

Lt.  Thos.  Fanning,  now  on  parole  from  L.  I.  at  Norwich,  a  pri- 
soner to  Gen.  Howe,  will  be  at  Hartford  on  his  return  to  N.  Y., 
about  Sep.  8,  '77,  whence  he  proposes  to  keep  the  public  road  to 
Kings  bridge.  Letters  and  money  left  at  the  most  noted  public 
houses,  in  the  different  towns,  will  be  conveyed  safe  to  the  prisoners. 
Extraordinaries  excepted.  Conn.  Gaz.,  Aug.  15,^11. 

Jan.  4,  '77.  Prisoners  went  into  the  Sugar  House.  N.  Murray 
says  800  men  were  in  Bridewell.  The  doctor  gave  poison  powders  to 
prisoners,  who  soondied.  Some  were  sent  to  Honduras  to  cut  log- 
wood ; — women  came  to  the  prison  gate  to  sell  gingerbread. 

Trumbull  Papers,  IX.  203. 

A  flag  of  truce  vessel  arrived  at  Milford,  after  a  tedious  passage  of 
11  days,  from  N.  Y.,  having  above  200  prisoners,  whose  rueful 
countenances  too  well  discovered  the  ill  treatment  they  received 
while  in  N.  Y.  20  died  on  the  passage  and  20  since  they  landed, 
(names  of  sick  follow.)  N.  Haven,  Jan.  8,  '77. 

Dec.  1,  '77.  The  American  prisoners  on  L.  I.  were  on  account 
of  a  suspected  descent  on  that  place,  put  on  board  a  prison  ship  and 
detained  there  two  weeks.  A  boat  one  evening  happened  to  be 
fastened  to  the  vessel's  side.  The  chance  of  escaping  in  her  was 
immediately  suggested  by  Lts.  Forrest  and  Woodside,  but  previously 
they  stepped  between  decks,  for  some  papers  or  clothing  in  their 
trunks.  Meantime  Major  Jack  Stewart,  and  one  or  two  others 
[with  Lt.  Col.  Livingston  taken  at  Ft.  Montgomery,]  quietly  let 
themselves  down  into  the  boat,  cast  her  off,  and  let  her  drift  astern 
of  the  ship.  They  were  lucky  enough  to  get  clear  of  her  unper- 
ceived,  and  at  length  to  reach  the  Jersey  shore  in  safety,  notwith- 
standing their  clo])cmcnt  was  soon  discovered.  It  being  dark,  pur- 
suit and  random  shot  were  unavailing.  The  disappointment  of  For- 
rest and  Woodside  was  extreme.  Graydon. 


AND    PRISON-SHIPS   AT    NEW-YORK.  219 

Memorandum  in  the  Provost  Jail,  N.  Y.,from  Ap.  23,  1777,  to 
Jan.  7,  1778,  hy  John  Fell^  one  of  the  Council  for  N.  Jersey. 

Ap.  23.  Last  night  I  was  taken  prisoner  from  my  house  by  25 
armed  men,  who  brought  me  down  to  Col.  Buskirk's,  Bergen  Pt.,  and 
from  him  sent  to  Gen.  Pigot,  at  N.  Y.,  who  sent  me  with  Capt.  Van 
Allen  to  ihe  Provost  jail. 

24.  Received  from  Mrs.  Curson,  by  the  hands  of  Mr.  Amiel,  ^16, 
2  shirts,  2  stocks,  some  tea,  sugar,  pepper,  towels,  tobacco,  pipes,  paper, 
and  a  bed  and  bedding. 

May  1.  Dr.  Lewis  Antle  and  Capt.  Thos.  Colden  (his  son-in-law?) 
at  the  door — refused  admittance. 

2.  6,  10  m.  p.  M.,  died  John  Thomas,  Esq.,  of  small-pox,  aged  70  ; 
inoculated. 

5.     Capt.  Colden  has  brought  from  Mr.  Curson,  ^IG. 
11.     Dr.  Antle  came  to  visit  me  ;  Nero  (his  slave?)  at  the  door. 
13.     Cold  weather. 

20.  Lewis  Pintard  came  per  order  of  Elias  Boudinot  to  offer  me 
money  ;  refused  admittance.     Capt.  Colden  came  to  visit  me. 

21.  Capt.  and  Mrs.  Come  came  to  visit  me,  and  I  was  called  down 
stairs  to  see  them. 

23.  Lewis  Pintard  came  as  Commissary  to  take  account  of  officers 
in  order  to  assist  them  with  money. 

24.  Every  person  refused  admittance  to  the  Provost. 

25.  All  prisoners  paraded  in  the  hall,  supposed  to  look  for  deserters. 
27.     Rev.  Mr.  Hart  and  Col.  Smith  brought  to  Provost  from  L.  I. 

29.  Stormy  in  Provost. 

30.  Not  allowed  to  fetch  good  water. 

31.  Bad  water  ;  proposed  buying  tea  water,  but  refused.    This  night 
10  prisoners  from  opposite  room  ordered  into  ours  ;  in  all  20. 

June  1.     Continued  same  to-day. 

2.  The  people  ordered  back  to  their  own  room. 

3.  Capt.  Van  Zandt  sent  to  dungeon  for  resenting  Capt.  Cunning- 
ham's abusing  and  insulting  me. 

4.  Capt.  Adams  brought  in  our  room ;  at  9  p.  m.  candles  ordered 
out. 

7.  Capt.  Van  Zandt  returned  from  dungeon. 

8.  All  prisoners  paraded  and  called  over,  and  delivered  to  care  of 
Sergeant  Keath,  (O'Keefe  ?)  and  told  we  were  all  alike.  No  distinction 
to  be  made. 

10.     Prisoners  very  sickly. 


220  INCIDENTS    OF    THE    BRITISH   PRISONS 

11.  Mr.  Richards  from  Conn,  exchanged. 

12.  Exceeding  strict  and  severe — "  out  lights." 

13.  Melancholy  scene,  women  refused  speaking  to  their  sick  hus- 
bands, and  treated  cruelly  by  sentries. 

14.  Mr.  Jas.  Ferris  released  on  parole  ;  people  in  jail  very  sickly, 
and  not  allowed  a  doctor. 

17.  Capt.  Come  came  to  speak  to  me— not  allowed. 

18.  Letter  from  prisoners  to  Sergeant  Keath,  requesting  more  privi- 
leges. 

19.  Received  6  bottles  claret  and  sundry  small  articles,  but  the  note 
not  allowed  to  come  up, 

20.  Memorandum  sent  by  prisoners  to  General  Pigot  with  list  of 
grievances. 

21.  Ans.  Grant  no  requests  made  by  prisoners, 

22.  Mrs,  Banta  refused  speaking  to  her  son. 

23.  Mr.  Haight  died. 

24.  19  prisoners  from  Brunswick  ;  18  sent  to  Sugar  House. 

25.  Dr.  Bard  came  to  visit  Justice  Moore,  but  his  wife  was  refused 
though  her  husband  was  dying. 

26.  Justice  Moore  died  and  was  carried  out. 

27.  Several  sick  people  removed  below. 
30.     Provost  very  sickly,  and  several  die. 

July  3.     Received  from  Mrs,  Curson  per  Mrs.  Marrener,  2  half  Joes, 

6.  Received  of  Elias  Boudinot  per  Pintard,  10  half  Joes. 

7.  Capt.  Thos.  Colden  came  to  the  grates  to  see  me. 

9.     2  men  carried  out  to  be  hung  for  desertion,  reprieved. 
11.     Mr.  Langdon  brought  into  our  room. 

13,  The  Sergeant  removed  a  number  of  prisoners  from  below. 

14,  Messrs.  Demarests  exchanged.  Dr.  Romaine  ordered  to  visit  sick, 

15,  A  declaration  of  more  privileges,  and  prisoners  allowed  to  speak 
at  the  windows. 

17.  Peter  Zabriskie  had  an  order  to  speak  with  me  and  let  me  know 
that  all  was  well  at  home. 

19.  Sergeant  from  Sugar  House  came  to  take  account  of  affairs  in 
Provi)st.     Capt.  Cunningham  in  town. 

21.  Sergeant  took  another  account  of  officers.  Capt.  Jas.  Lowry 
died. 

22.  Mr.  Miller  died.     Capt.  Lowry  buried, 
Aug.  1.     Very  sick — weather  very  hot, 

5.  Barry  sent  to  dungeon  for  I)ringing  rum  for  Mr.  Philips  without 
leave  of  Sergeant,     Every  thing  looks  stormy. 


AND    PRISON-SHIPS    AT    NEW-YORK.  221 

6.  Warm  weather — growing  better.  Mr.  Pintard  came  to  supply 
prisoners  of  war  with  clothes. 

10.  2  prisoners  from  L.  I.,  and  4  Lawrences  from  near  Tappan. 

11.  John  Coven  Cromwell  from  White  Plains.  Freeland  from  Pol- 
ly ?  Fly  whipped  about  salt. 

12.  Sergeant  Kealh  took  all  pens  and  ink  out  of  each  room,  and  for- 
bid the  use  of  any  on  pain  of  dungeon. 

13.  Abm.  Miller  discharged. 

14.  Jacobus  Blauvelt  died  in  morning — buried  at  noon. 

16.  Capt.  Ed.  Travis  brought  in  our  room  from  dungeon,  where  he 
has  long  been  confined  and  cruelly  treated. 

17.  Mr.  Keath  refused  me  liberty  to  send  a  card  to  Mr.  Amiel  for 
pound  of  tobacco. 

21.  Capt.  Hyer  discharged  from  Provost. 

25.  Berry  brought  up  from  dungeon,  and  Capt.  Travis  sent  down 
again  without  any  prorocation. 

26.  Badcock  sent  to  dungeon  for  cutting  wood  in  evening.  Locks 
put  on  all  the  doors  and  threatened  to  be  locked  up.  Col.  Ethan  Allen 
brought  to  Provost  from  L.  L,  and  confined  below. 

27.  Badcock  discharged  from  below. 

30.  5  p.  M.,  all  rooms  locked  up  close. 

31.  A.  M.,  Col.  Allen  brought  in  our  room. 
Sep.  1.     Pleasant  weather — bad  water. 

4.     Horrid  scenes  of  whipping. 

6.  Lewis  Pintard  brought  some  money  for  officers,  p.  m..  Major 
Otho  H.  Williams  brought  from  L.  L,  and  confined  in  our  room,  Major 
Wells,  from  same  place,  confined  below,  a.  m.,  Wm.  Lawrence  of 
Tappan  died. 

8.  Campbell,  Taylor,  John  Cromwell,  and  Buchanan  from  Phila- 
delphia, discharged. 

10.     Provisions  exceeding  ordinary — pork  very  rusty,  biscuit  bad. 
12.     Capt.  Travis,  Capt.  Chatham,  and   others,  brought  out  of  dun- 
geon. 

14.  2  prisoners  from  Jersey,  viz. :  Thos.  Canfield  of  Newark,  and 
Jwa  lemon. 

16.  Troops  returned  from  Jersey.  Several  prisoners  brought  to  Pro- 
vost, viz. :  Capt.  Varick,  Wm.  Prevost,  Brower,  &,c. 

17.  Prisoners  from  L.  I. 

22.  Nothing  material.     Major  Wells  brought  from  below  up  stairs. 
24.     Received  from  Mr.  Curson  per  Mr.  Amiel,  4  guineas,  6  bottles 

wine,  and  1  lb.  tobacco. 


222  INCIDENTS    OF    THE    BRITISH    PRISONS 

26.  Mr.  Pintard  carried  list  of  prisoners  and  account  of  grievances 
to  the  general.    Capt.  Chatham  and  others  carried  to  dungeon. 

28.  Yesterday  number  of  soldiers  sent  below,  and  several  prisoners 
brought  out  of  dungeon.  State  of  grievances  presented  to  Gen.  Jones, 
which  much  displeased  Sergeant,  who  threatened  to  lock  up  rooms. 

29.  Last  night  Sergeant  locked  up  all  the  rooms.  Rev.  Mr.  James 
Sears  admitted  up  stairs. 

30.  Sent  Mr.  Pintard  list  of  clothing  wanted  per  continental  and 
state  prisoners  in  Provost.     Sergeant  locks  up  all  the  rooms. 

Oct.  2.     Candles  ordered  out  at  8 — not  locked  up. 

4.  Locked  up.    Great  number  of  ships  went  up  N.  River.  Received 
sundries  from  Grove  Bend — 3  pair  ribbed  hose,  3  towels. 

5.  Garret  Miller  of  Smith's  Clove  signed  his  will  in  prison,  in  pre- 
sence of  Benj.  Goldsmith,  Abr.  Skinner,  and  myself. 

6.  G.  Miller  died  of  small-pox — p.  m.  buried. 

7.  Wm.  Prevost  discharged  from  Provost. 

8.  Capt.  Chatham  and  Lewis  Thitcher  brought  out  of  dungeon. 
10.     Mr.  Pintard  sent  up  blankets,    shoes,  and  stockings  for  pri- 
soners. 

IL     Several  prisoners  from  N.  River. 

12.  Lt.  Col.  Livingston  and  upwards  of  20  officers  from  Ft.  Mont- 
gomery and  Clinton,  all  below. 

13.  Received  from  Mr.  Pintard  a  letter  by  flag  from  Peter  R.  Fell. 
A.  M.  Mr.  Noble  came  to  the  grates  to  speak  to  me. 

14.  Sergeant  Keath  sent  Lt.  Mercer  and  Mr.  Nathl.  Fitzrandolph 
to  the  dungeon  for  complaining  their  room  had  not  water  sufficient. 

15.  Mr.  Pintard  brought  sundry  articles  for  prisoners. 

17.     Mr.  Antonio  and  other  prisoners  brought  here  from  up  N.  River. 
19.     Ben.  Goldsmith  ill  of  small-pox,  made  his  will  and  gave  it  to 
me.     Died  2  a.  m.,  Oct.  20. 

21.  Glorious  news  from  Northward. 

22.  Confirmation  strong  as  Holy  Writ.  Beef,  loaf-bread  and  butter, 
drawn  to-day. 

23.  Weather  continues  very  cold  ;  ice  in  the  tub  in  hall.  Number 
of  vessels  came  down  North  River.  Mr.  VVm.  Bayard  at  the  door  to 
take  out  old  Mr.  Morris. 

24.  Prisoners  from  Sugar  Plouse  sent  on  board  ships. 

25.  Rev.  Mr.  Hart  admitted  on  parole  in  the  city.  Serg.  Woolley 
from  Sugar  House  came  to  take  names  of  officers,  and  says  an  exchange 
is  expected. 

28.     Last  night  and  to-day  storm  continues  very  severe.     Provost 


AND    PRISON-SHIPS   AT    NEW-YORK.  223 

in  a  terrible  condition.     Lt.  Col.  Livingston  admitted  up  stairs  a  few 
minutes. 

Nov.  1. — Lt.  Callender  of  the  train  ordered  back  on  L.  L;  also 
several  officers  taken  at  Ft.  Montgomery  sent  on  parole  to  L  L 

3.  In  evening  my  daughter  Eliz.  Golden  came  to  see  me,  accompa- 
nied by  Mayor  Matthews. 

5.  E.  Golden  came  to  let  me  know  she  was  going  out  of  town. 
Yesterday  Sergeant  refused  her  liberty  of  speaking  to  me.  Gen.  Ro- 
bertson's Aid-de-camp  came  to  inquire  into  grievances  of  prisoners. 

16.  Jail  exceeding  disagreeable — many  miserable  and  shocking  ob- 
jects nearly  starved  with  cold  and  hunger — miserable  prospect  before  us. 

18.  Town  Major  and  Town  Adjutant  came  with  a  pretence  of  view- 
ing jail. 

19.  Peter  and  Cor.  Van  Tassel,  two  prisoners  from  Tarry  town  in 
our  room. 

20.  Mr.  Pintard  sent  three  barrels  of  flour  to  be  distributed  among 
prisoners. 

21.  Mr.  Pintard  came  for  account  of  what  clothing  prisoners  wanted. 

24.  Six  tailors  brought  here  from  prison  ship  to  work  in  making 
clothes  for  prisoners.  They  say  people  on  board  very  sickly  ;  300  sent 
on  board  reduced  to  100. 

25.  Mr.  Dean  and  others  brought  to  jail  from  the  town. 

26.  Dean  locked  up  by  himself,  and  Mr.  Forman  brought  up  stairs 
attended  by  Rev.  Mr.  Inglis,  and  afterwards  ordered  down  stairs.  New 
order — one  of  prisoners  ordered  to  go  to  commissary's  and  see  provi- 
sions dealt  out  for  prisoners.  Vast  number  of  people  assembled  at  Pro- 
vost in  expectation  of  seeing  an  execution. 

27.  John,  the  milkman,  locked  up  stairs  with  sentry  at  his  door. 
A  report  by  Mr.  Webb  that  a  prisoner.  Herring,  was  come  down  to  be 
exchanged  for  Mr.  Van  Zandt  or  me. 

30.     Gapt.  Cunningham  came  to  Provost. 
Dec.  1.     Gapt.  Money  came  down  with  Mr.  Webb  to  be  exchanged 
for  Major  Wells. 

2.  Col.  Butler  visited  Provost,  and  promised  a  doctor  should  at- 
tend. Received  from  Mr.  Bend  cloth  for  a  great  coat,  &.c.  Mr.  Pin- 
tard took  list  of  clothing  wanting  for  prisoners. 

3.  Several  prisoners  of  war  sent  from  here  on  board  prison  ship, 
and  some  of  sick  sent  to  hospital.  Dr.  Romaine  being  ordered  by  Sir  H. 
Clinton  to  examine  the  sick.  Prisoners  sickly  ;  cause,  cold.  Prisoners 
scanty  clothing  in  upper  rooms,  and  only  two  bushels  coal  for  a  room 
of  20  men,  a  week. 


224  INCIDENTS    OF    THE    BRITISH    PRISONS 

5.  Mr.  Blanch  ordered  out ;  said  to  be  to  go  to  Morris  Town  to 
get  prisoners  exchanged.     Cold. 

7.  Mr.  Webb  came  to  acquaint  Major  Wells  his  exchange  was 
agreed  to  with  Capt   Money. 

8.  Maj  Gen.  Robertson  with  Mayor,  came  to  Provost  to  examine 
prison.  I  was  called  and  examined,  and  requested  my  parole.  Gen. 
said  I  had  made  bad  use  of  indulgence  granted  me,  in  letting  my  daugh- 
ter come  to  see  me  ;  by  ordering  Mr.  Parker  and  Mr.  Ruderford  con- 
fined. 

9.  Major  Wells  exchanged. 

10.  Mr.  Pintard  sent  100  loaves  for  prisoners,  a.  m.,  Walter 
Thurston  died.  Prisoners  very  sick,  and  die  very  fast  from  hospitals 
and  prison  ships. 

11.  Some  flags  from  N.  River. 

13.  Abel  Wells  died — a  tailor  from  prison  ship. 

12.  Mr.  Pintard  brought  letters  for  sundry  people. 

14.  Sunday — guards  more  severe  than  ever,  notwithstanding  Gen. 
Robertson's  promise  of  more  indulgence.  Capt.  Van  Zandt  brought 
from  L.  I. 

16.  Sent  message  to  Mr.  Pintard  for  wood.  Cold,  and  entirely  out 
of  wood. 

17.  Commissary  Winslow  came  and  released  Major  Williams  on  his 
parole  on  L.  I. 

18.  Mr.  Pintard  sent  four  cords  wood  for  prisoners. 

19.  Capt.  John  Paul  Schoot  released  on  parole.  Mr.  Pintard  with 
clothing  for  the  people. 

21.  A  paper  found  at  door  of  Provost,  intimating  that  three  prison- 
ers had  a  rope  concealed  in  a  bag  in  one  of  the  rooms,  in  order  to  make 
their  escape.  The  Sergeant  examined  all  the  rooms,  and  at  night  we 
were  all  locked  up. 

22.  Received  from  Mr.  Pintard  100  loaves  bread  and  quarter  beef. 
24.     Distributed  clothing,  «Scc.,  to  prisoners. 

28.  Gen.  Robertson  sent  a  doctor  to  examine  me  in  consequence  of 
the  petition  sent  by  Col.  Allen  for  my  releasement.  The  Dr.  reported 
to  Dr.  Mallet. 

29.  Gen.  Robertson  sent  me  word  I  should  be  liberated  in  town,  pro- 
vided I  procured  a  gentleman  in  town  to  be  responsible  for  my  appear- 
ance.    In  consequence  I  wrote  to  lion.  H.  Wh  te,  Esq. 

30.  Dr.  Romaine,  with  whom  I  sent  the  letter,  said  Mr.  White  had 
a  number  of  objections,  but  the  Dr.  hoped  to  succeed  in  the  afternoon. 
Mr.  Winslow  came  and  told  me  the  same  story  I  heard  the  day  before. 


AND   PRISON-SHIPS    AT    NEW-YORK.  225 

31.  Sergeant  Keath  brought  a  message  from  the  General  to  the 
same  purpose  as  yesterday. 

N.  B.  I  lost  the  memorandum  from  this  date  to  the  time  of  my  be- 
ing liberated  from  Provost,  on  Jan.  7,  1778. 

-iV.  Y.,  Feb.  11,  1778.  Received  a  letter  from  Jos.  Loring,  Esq., 
Com.  of  Prisoners,  with  leave  from  Gen.  Robertson,  for  my  having  the 
bounds  of  the  city  allowed  me. 

Mar.  23.  Wrote  to  Maj.  Gen.  Robertson,  and  told  him  this  was 
the  eleventh  month  of  my  imprisonment. 

My  Note  to  General  Eohertson — (See  Journal  Dec.  28.) 
I  received  your  Excellency's  message  this  morning  per  Sergeant 
Keath,  respecting  the  condition  of  my  being  liberated  on  account  of  my 
ill  state  of  health.  If  your  E.xcellency  will  be  so  obliging  as  to  let  me 
out,  I  make  not  the  least  doubt  of  giving  you  all  the  satisfaction  you 
can  desire  ;  but  to  write  to  a  gentleman  whom  I  have  not  seen  for  up- 
wards of  two  years,  I  am  afraid  will  answer  no  end.  Therefore,  I  do 
most  earnestly  entreat  your  Excellency  to  grant  this  my  humble  request, 
and  give  orders  to  the  Sergeant  to  liberate  me  to  the  house  of  Mn. 
Marrener,  from  whence  I  can  have  an  opportunity  to  send  to  such  gen- 
tlemen as  I  think  will  satisfy  your  Excellency.  I  am,  &,c. 

Card  from  Gen.  Robertson. — (See  Journal  Dec.  29.) 
Gen.  Robertson  has  received  Mr.  Fell's  note  ;  finds  it  impossible  to 
comply  with  his  request  till  Mr.  Fell's  friends  give  him  sufficient  secu- 
rity that  he  will  not  attempt  to  escape.  A  Mr.  Langdon  having  broken 
his  faith  in  like  circumstances,  has  given  rise  to  a  rule,  which  it  is  out 
of  Gen.  Robertson's  power  to  dispense  with. 

My  Letter  to  Hon.  Henry  White,  Esq. — (See  Journal  Dec.  30.) 
Sir  : — Being  in  a  very  ill  state  of  health.  Gen.  Robertson,  on  ex- 
amination, has  consented  that  I  be  liberated  to  a  house  in  town  on  se- 
curity ;  for  which  purpose  I  have  taken  the  liberty  to  request  that  you 
will  be  so  obliging  as  to  be  responsible  for  me.  I  conceive  it  a  happi- 
ness to  be  released  on  such  terms,  and  shall  esteem  your  friendship  as  a 
singular  favor.  On  your  appearing  at  the  General's,  I  may  be  permitted 
to  a  house  in  town.  I  am,  &c. 

Feb.  4,  1778.  I  delivered  Lewis  Pintard  the  wills  of  Garret  Miller 
and  Benj.  Goldsmith,  to  be  forwarded  to  their  respective  families.  Pre- 
sent, E.  Boudinot. 


226  INCIDENTS    OF    THE    BRITISH    PRISONS 

May  20,  '78.  I  had  my  parole  extended  by  order  of  Gen.  Daniel 
Jones,  to  my  own  house  in  Bergen  county,  for  30  days.  June  20.  I 
left  home  and  arrived  at  Paulus  Hook,  Col.  TurnbuU  not  being  at  home ; 
I  was  detained  till  night,  and  then  sent  with  an  officer  to  N.  Y.  to  Maj. 
Gen.  Val.  Jones,  who  ordered  me  to  wait  on  Commissary  Winslow  next 
morning,  who  waited  on  Gen.  Dan'l  Jones,  and  by  his  order  I  was  de- 
tained in  town  till  July  1st,  when  the  Commissary  was  ordered  to  make 
out  my  parole,  not  to  return  till  sent  for.  July  2d  I  left  town,  and  next 
day  arrived  safe  home. 

Nov.  15.  I  received  from  Abm.  Skinner,  Dep.  Com.  of  Prisons,  a 
certificate  of  my  being  exchanged  for  Gov.  Skene.  Signed  by  Joshua 
Loring,  Com.  Gen.  of  Prisons,  dated  N.  Y.,  Oct.  26,  1778. 

The  following  persons  were  my  security  for  jCIOO  each,  being  de- 
manded by  Gen.  Robertson  on  my  release  from  Provost  to  lodgings  in 
N.  Y.,  on  my  parole.     Jan.  7,  1778. 

Lawrence  Kortright,  Henry  Haydock, 

Richard  Yates,  Jas.  Jauncey, 

St.  Skinner,  Henry  White, 

Dr.  McAdam,  John  Amiel, 

Wm.  Seton,  Grove  Bend. 

Grievances  that  the  Prisoners  are  under,  sent  to  Gen.  Jones  per 
Mr.  Pintard. — (See  Journal,  Sep.  26  and  28.) 

"  Close  confined  in  jail  without  distinction  of  rank  or  character, 
amongst  felons,  (a  number  of  whom  are  under  sentence  of  death,)  with- 
out their  friends  being  suffered  to  speak  to  them,  even  through  the 
grates.  On  the  scanty  allowance  of  2  lbs.  hard  biscuit  and  2  lbs.  raw 
pork  per  man  per  week,  without  fuel  to  dress  it.  Frequently  supplied 
with  water  from  a  pump  where  all  kinds  of  filth  is  thrown  that  can  ren- 
der it  obnoxious  and  unwholesome,  (the  eflfects  of  which  are  too  often 
felt,)  when  good  water  is  as  easily  obtained.  Denied  the  benefit  of 
a  hospital,  not  allowed  to  send  for  medicine,  nor  even  a  doctor  permit- 
ted to  visit  them  when  in  the  greatest  distress  ;  married  men  and  others 
who  lay  at  the  point  of  death,  refused  to  have  their  wives  or  relations 
admitted  to  see  them,  and  for  attempting  it  often  beat  from  the  prison. 
Commissioned  officers  and  other  persons  of  character,  without  a  cause, 
thrown  into  a  loathsome  dungeon,  insulted  in  a  gross  manner,  and 
vilely  abused  by  a  Provost  Marshal,  who  is  allowed  to  be  one  of  the  basest 
characters  in  the  British  army,  and  whose  power  is  so  unlimited,  that 
he  has  caned  an  officer  on  a  trivial  occasion,  and  frequently  beats  the 


AND    PRISON-SHIPS    AT    NEW-YORK.  227 

sick  privates  when  unable  to  stand,  many  of  whom  are  daily  obliged  to 
enlist  in  the  New  Corps  to  prevent  perishing  for  want  of  the  necessaries 
of  life.  Neither  pen,  ink,  or  paper  allowed,  (to  prevent  their  treatment 
being  made  public,)  the  consequence  of  which,  indeed,  the  prisoners 
themselves  dread,  knowing  the  malignant  disposition  of  their  keeper. 

Gaine,  Jan.  5,  '78.  Nurses  wanted  immediately  to  attend  the 
prison  hospitals  in  tliis  city.  Good  recommendations  required,  signed 
by  two  respectable  inhabitants. 

LEWIS  PINTARD. 

The  Board  of  War  report,  Jan.  21,  '78,  that  there  are  900  pri- 
vates and  300  officers  in  N.  Y.,  and  that  the  privates  have  been 
crowded  all  summer  in  sugar-houses  and  the  officers  boarded  on  L.  L, 
except  about  30,  who  have  been  confined  in  the  provost-guard,  and 
in  most  loathsome  jails,  and  that  since  Oct.  1,  all  those  prisoners, 
both  officers  and  privates,  have  been  confined  in  prison,  prison-ships, 
or  the  Provost. 

Lists  of  prisoners  in  Provost,  Nov.  5,  '77  :  those  taken  by  the 
Falcon,  Dec.  '77  (see  638),  and  those  belonging  to  Conn.,  Jan.  '78, 
in  the  Quaker  and  Brick  Meeting  Hospitals,  may  be  found  in  the 
Trumbull  Papers,  VII,  170,  228,  258 ;  VIII,  62. 

"  Gen.  Lee,  on  receiving  $500,  which  he  drew  in  the  New-York 
Lottery,  immediately  distributed  it  among  the  American  prisoners. 
It  is  said  that  the  American  prisoners,  since  we  have  had  a  Commis- 
sary in  New-York,  are  well  served  with  good  provisions,  which  are 
furnished  at  the  expense  of  the  States,  and  are  in  general  very 
healthy.— iV.  London,  Feb.  20,  '78. 

May  6,  '78.  N.  J.  Gaz.  Col.  Miles,  Irvin,  and  50  more  prisoners 
exchanged.  Report  says,  of  3000  prisoners  taken  at  Ft.  Washington, 
only  800  are  now  living. 

Conn.  Gaz.,  July  10,  '78.  About  three  weeks  ago,  Rob't  Shef- 
field, of  Stonington,  made  his  escape  from  N.  Y.,  after  confinement 
on  board  a  prison-ship.  After  he  was  taken,  he  with  his  crew  (10) 
were  thrust  into  the  forepeak  and  put  in  irons.  On  their  arrival  at 
N.  Y.,  they  were  carried  on  board  a  prison-ship  and  to  the  hatchways, 
on  opening  which,  tell  not  of  Pandora's  Box,  for  that  must  be  an 
alabaster-box,  in  comparison  to  the  opening  of  these  hatches.  True 
there  were  gratings  but  they  kept  their  boats  upon  thera.    The  steam 


228  INCIDENTS    OF    THE    BRITISH    PRISONS 

of  the  hold  was  enough  to  scald  the  skin  and  take  away  the  hreath — 
the  stench  enough  to  poison  the  air  all  around.  On  his  descending 
these  dreary  mansions  of  woe,  and  beholding  the  numerous  spectacles 
of  wretchedness  and  despair,  his  soul  fainted  within  him.  A  little 
epitome  of  hell — about  350  men  confined  between  decks,  half  French- 
men. He  was  informed  there  were  three  more  of  these  vehicles  of 
contagion,  which  contained  a  like  number  of  miserable  Frenchmen 
also,  who  are  treated  worse  (if  possible)  than  Americans  ;  the  heat 
so  intense  (the  hot  sun  shining  all  day  on  deck)  that  they  were  all 
naked,  which  also  served  the  well  to  get  rid  of  vermin,  but  the  sick 
were  eaten  up  alive.  Their  sickly  countenances  and  ghastly  looks 
were  truly  horrible  ;  some  swearing  and  blaspheming  ;  some  crying, 
praying,  and  wringing  their  hands,  and  stalking  about  hke  ghosts  ; 
others  delirious,  raving,  and  storming  ;  some  groaning  and  dying — 
all  panting  for  breath  ;  some  dead  and  corrupting — air  so  foul  at 
times  that  a  lamp  could  not  be  kept  burning,  by  reason  of  which  the 
boys  were  not  missed  till  they  had  been  dead  ten  days.  One  person 
only  admitted  on  deck  at  a  time  after  sunset,  which  occasions  much 
filth  to  run  into  the  hold  and  mingle  with  bilge- water,  which  was  not 
pumped  out  while  he  was  aboard,  notwithstanding  the  decks  were 
leaky,  and  the  prisoners  begged  permission  to  let  in  fresh  water  and 
pump  it  out  again.  While  Mr.  S.  was  on  board  (6  days)  5  or  6  died 
daily  and  3  of  his  people.  He  was  sent  for  on  shore  as  evidence  in 
a  court  of  admiralty  for  condemning  his  own  vessel  and  happily  es- 
caped. He  was  informed  in  N.  Y.  that  the  fresh  meat  sent  in  to  our 
prisoners  by  our  Commissary,  was  taken  by  the  men  of  war  for  their 
own  use.  This  he  can  say  :  he  did  not  see  any  aboard  the  ship  he 
was  in,  but  they  were  well  supplied  with  soft  bread  from  our  Com- 
missary on  shore.  But  the  provision  (be  it  what  it  will)  is  not  the 
complaint.  Fresh  air  and  fresh  water,  God's  free  gift,  is  all  their 
cry. 

July  31,  '78.  N.  London.  Last  week  500  or  600  American  pris- 
oners were  released  from  confinement  at  N.  Y.,  and  sent  out  chiefly 
by  way  of  N.  Jersey,  being  exchanged. 

N.  London^  Sep.  26,  '78.  All  American  prisoners  are  nearly 
Bent  out  of  N.  Y.,  but  there  are  615  French  prisoners  still  there. 

Oct.  18,  '78.     Ship  Good  Hope  lies  in  the  North  River. 


AND    PRISON-SHIPS    AT    NEW-YORK.  229 

Dec.  14,  '78.  Gaine.  The  Jersey  hospital-ship  hes  at  Frankhn, 
near  Tolmie's  Wharf,  E.  River. 

N.  London,  Dec.  18,  '78.  A  Flag  with  70  men  from  the  hor- 
rible prison-ships,  N.  Y.,  arrived  ;  30  very  sickly,  two  died  since  they 
arrived, 

N.  London,  Dec.  25,  '78.  A  cartel  arrived  here  from  N.  Y.  with 
172  American  prisoners.  They  were  landed  here  and  in  Groton — 
greater  part  sickly  and  in  most  deplorable  condition,  owing  chiefly 
to  the  ill-usage  in  the  prison-ships,  where  numbers  had  their  feet 
and  legs  froze. 

Col.  Magaw,  Lt.  Col.  Kichline,  Nich's  Lutz,  Maj.  Aquilla  Giles, 
and  Lt.  Sam'l  Dodge,  who  went  home  on  parole,  are  ordered  back 
to  N.  Y.  by  Loring,  Oct  31,  '78.  Gaine,  Jan.  18,  '79. 

Jan.  15,  '79.  Riv.  Privateers  arriving  in  N.  Y.  Harbor  are  to 
put  their  prisoners  on  board  the  Good  Hope  or  Prince  of  Wales 
prison-ships.  JAS.  DICK. 

Boston,  Feb.  4,  '79.  A  cartel  lately  brought  136  prisoners  from 
prison-ships  in  N.  Y.  to  N.  London.  Such  was  the  condition  in 
which  these  poor  creatures  were  put  aboard  the  cartel,  that  in  this 
ghort  run,  16  died  on  board  ;  and  60,  when  they  landed,  were  scarcely 
able  to  move,  and  the  remainder  greatly  emaciated.  The  greatest 
inhumanity  was  experienced  in  a  ship,  of  which  one  Nelson,  a 
Scotchman,  had  the  superintendence.  Upwards  of  300  were  con- 
fined at  a  time  on  board.  There  was  but  one  small  fireplace  to  cook 
the  food  of  such  a  number.  The  allowance  was  moreover  frequently 
delayed.  In  the  short  days  of  November  and  December,  it  was  not 
begun  to  be  delivered  out  till  11  A.  M.,  so  that  the  whole  could  not  be 
eeiTed  till  3.  At  sunset  the  fire  was  ordered  to  be  quenched,  so  that 
some  had  not  their  food  dressed  at  all ;  many  were  obliged  to  eat  it 
half  raw.  No  flour,  oatmeal,  and  things  of  like  nature,  suited  to  the 
condition  of  infirm  people,  were  allowed  to  the  many  sick — nothing 
but  ship-bread,  beef,  and  pork. 

N.  London,  June  16,  '79.  Our  prisoners  on  board  the  prison-ships 
suffer  beyond  description,  being  turned  down  in  great  numbers 
below  decks,  where  they  are  compelled  to  languish  in  stench  and 
dirt. 

11 


280  INCIDENTS    OF    THE    BRITISH   PRISONS 

N.  Haven,  June  23,  '79.  200  prisoners  were  landed  in  N.  Jersey 
from  the  prison-ships. 

Sir  Geo.  Collier  forbids  privateers  landing  prisoners  on  L.  I.,  to 
the  damage  and  annoyance  of  His  Majesty's  faithful  subjects.  Ju. 
29,  '79. 

Aug.  23,  '79.  To  be  sold,  the  sails  and  rigging  of  the  ship 
Good  Hope.     Masts,  spars,  and  yards,  good  as  new. 

Aug.  18,  '79.  Last  week,  6  or  600  American  prisoners  ex- 
changed. 

A  flag  returned  here  with  47  American  prisoners,  and  though 
taken  out  of  the  Good  Hope  prison-ship,  it  must  (for  once)  be  ac- 
knowledged, all  are  very  well  and  healthy  :  only  150  left.  Aug.  25, 
'79.   N.  London. 

N.  London,  Sep.  1,  '79.  D.  Stanton  was  taken,  June  5,  and 
put  in  the  Jersey  prison-ship.  An  allowance  from  Congress  was 
sent  aboard.  About  3  or  4  weeks  past,  we  were  removed  on  board 
the  Good  Hope,  where  we  found  many  sick.  There  is  liow  a  hos- 
pital-ship provided,  to  which  they  are  removed,  and  good  attention 
paid. 

Returned  to  this  port,  Alex.  Dickey,  Commissary  of  Prisoners, 
from  N.  Y.,  with  a  cartel,  having  on  board  180  American  prisoners. 
Their  countenances  indicate  they  have  undergone  every  conceivable 
inhumanity.     Boston,  Sep.  2,  '79. 

New  London,  Sep.  29,  '79.  A  Flag  arrived  here  from  N.  Y., 
with  117  prisoners,  chiefly  from  N.  England. 

N.  J.  Gaz.,  Oct.  12,  '79.  Last  Wednesday  moniing,  one  o'clock, 
9  Capts.,  among  them  Thos.  Dring  and  Jas.  Munroe,  and  2  privates 
made  their  escape  from  the  Good  Hope,  prison-ship,  in  the  N.  River. 
They  confined  the  Mate,  disarmed  the  sentinels,  and  hoisted  out  the 
boat  which  was  on  deck.  They  brought  off  9  stand  of  arms  and 
ammunition.  They  had  scarce  got  clear  before  the  alarm  was  given, 
when  they  were  fired  on  by  3  ships,  but  none  were  hurt.  Capt. 
Prince  speaks  in  the  highest  terms  of  the  commander  of  the  prison- 
ship,  Capt.  Nelson,  who  used  the  prisoners  with  a  great  deal  of  hu- 
manity. 


AND    PRISON-SHIPS    AT   NEW-YORK.  231 

N.  London,  Feb.  16,  '80.  15  prisoners  arrived  here,  who  three 
weeks  ago  escaped  from  the  prison-ship  in  the  E.  River.  A  num- 
ber of  others  escaped  about  the  same  time  from  the  same  ship,  some 
of  whom  being  frost  bitten  and  unable  to  endure  the  cold,  were  tak- 
en up  and  carried  back,  one  frozen  to  death  before  he  reached  the 
shore. 

Riv.,  Mar.  8,  '80.  Last  Sunday  afternoon,  the  Good  Hope, 
prison-ship,  lying  in  the  VVallebocht  Bay,  was  entirely  consumed, 
after  having  been  wilfully  set  on  fire  by  a  Con't  man,  named  Wood- 
bury, who  confessed  the  fact.  He  with  others  of  the  incendiaries 
are  removed  to  the  Provost.  The  prisoners  let  each  other  down 
from  the  port-holes  and  decks  into  the  water. 

Col.  John  Ely  and  Capt.  Ed.  Bulkley,  in  behalf  of  officers  pris- 
oners at  Flatbush,  petition  Gov.  Trumbull  for  hard  cash.  They  are 
in  debt  for  clothing  and  sickness  in  the  fall.  Their  board  has  been 
paid  to  May  last.  Ap.  24,  '80. 

I  am  now  a  prisoner  on  board  the  ship  Falmouth,  in  N.  Y.,  a 
place  the  most  dreadful ;  we  are  confined  so  that  we  have  not  room 
even  to  lie  down  all  at  once  to  sleep.  It  is  the  most  horrible  cursed 
hole  that  can  be  thought  of.  I  was  sick,  and  longed  for  some  small 
beer  while  I  lay  unpitied  at  death's  door,  with  a  putrid  fever,  and 
though  I  had  money,  I  was  not  permitted  to  send  for  it.  I  offered 
repeatedly  a  hard  dollar  for  a  pint.  The  wretch  who  went  forward 
and  backward  would  not  oblige  me.  I  am  just  able  to  creep  about. 
Four  prisoners  have  escaped  from  this  ship.  One  having,  as  by  ac- 
cident, thrown  his  hat  overboard,  begged  leave  to  go  after  it  in  a 
small  boat,  which  lay  alongside.  A  sentinel  with  only  his  side-arms 
on,  got  into  the  boat.  Having  reached  the  hat,  they  secured  the 
sentinel  and  made  for  the  Jersey  shore,  though  several  armed  boats 
pursued,  and  shot  was  fired  from  the  shipping. 

Con.  Gaz.,  May,  25,  '80. 

Two  young  men,  brothers,  belonging  to  a  rifle  corps,  were  made 
prisoners,  and  sent  on  board  the  Jersey.  The  elder  took  the  fever, 
and  in  a  few  days  became  delirious.  One  night  (his  end  was  fast 
approaching)  he  became  calm  and  sensible,  and  lamenting  his  hard 
fate,  and  the  absence  of  his  mother,  begged  for  a  little  water.  His 
brother,  with  tears  entreated  the  guard  to  give  him  some,  but  in 


Uiat  T: 


AJ  KTW-TOEll. 


CBrtftom,  jr.  J^  Sol.  «, 
jni  valet  'jKBODsrE  wiiu  "fts 
Town- 

JEtr~  I>ez.  €.  ^ST.    Tor  sale.  'Gst  inilk  of  iff  MatBHlt'e  fikmpE 

Jf-  Sjvst.  ft  unkc  of  lb?  ?t2cal  Szass^seiieE.      5ac  bi^~.. 


Vosttnts'lmr'v  X^Hstt  vb  TrBfltneaf  of  J'TitinBsn.——SpBT'ix. 

4k  jiiK  D2  iiitiiwTnu  miiisr  Cjiiiiuii. 

^.  14,  TP-     GonmifflBimEiE  fe  -fie  gaeuaagt?  of 
AmwDT.  bin  dsasrsed     Tn?j  tieai  ttK^  b  parual  carxel 

JojL  4,  *3Ii.     Cok.  MasKV,  Hir,  Mattncwc  and  Tnii—ir.  yez  |EK- 

anea  vi  K.  T.   odik  on:  im  psme  witc  new  jHmmmuiBe  of  sxnao^^ 

Jii^  Ifi,  "dfi.    1X~.  aKjK,  f,ai'.tiangef  of  pnaoDeK^  Uiuqse  mam  ^9'  Jb- 

iTTtjy  •jB  OUT  own.     J  ?^v  or  lie  Ajtw^'.^vit.  tttsoiks  Dciiiiif  xt  uk  uuu*  . 


^luc Hilar  ji  wimrB- in  Jk.  a. 


Brfnre  5ifw.  T,  •Bt.  141'  o&rt: 

JaiL.  i^.  '^-     *r.  writs  ti>   ^Tinimmn..  iim:  tiK    Am^imw 
pmanetE  in  K.  T'.,  snttsr  all  cxTmnriKC  of  iThuumi;  nmi 

ifod  and  ulier  iill'  wiiririi     Ss  wans  k 


234  INCIDENTS    OF   THE    BRITISH    PRISONS 

The  suffering  of  seamen  for  some  time  past  arises  mostly  from  the  want 
of  a  general  regulation,  that  no  American  privateers  should  set  their 
prisoners  free  ;  whereas  now  the  British  prisoners  enter  the  American 
service,  or  are  allowed  to  escape,  so  that  the  balance  of  prisoners  is 
against  the  Americans. 

Feh.  18,  '82.  W.  declines  Sproat's  proposition  to  exchange  British 
soldiers  for  American  seamen,  as  it  will  give  the  British  considerable 
reinforcement,  and  be  a  constant  draft  hereafter  on  prisoners  of  war  in 
our  hands.  Few  or  none  of  the  naval  prisoners  in  N,  Y.  belong  to  the 
Continental  service.  Captains  of  all  vessels,  public  and  private,  should 
throw  their  prisoners  into  common  stock  under  the  direction  of  a  Com- 
missary General  of  prisoners  ;  as  it  is  now,  the  greater  part  is  dispersed, 
and  there  are  few  to  exchange  for  British  prisoners. 

Geo.  Batterman,  who  had  been  prisoner  on  board  the  prison-ship  at 
N.  Y.,  deposes  that  he  had  8  oz,  of  condemned  bread  per  day,  and  8  oz,  of 
meat.  He  was  afterwards  put  on  board  the  Jersey,  where  were  (as  was 
supposed)  1,100  prisoners  ;  recruiting  officers  came  on  board,  and  find- 
ing American  officers  persuaded  the  men  not  to  enlist,  removed  them 
(as  he  was  told)  to  the  Provost.  The  prisoners  were  tempted  to  enlist 
to  free  themselves  from  confinement,  hopeless  of  exchange.  Dec.  5, 
prisoners  had  a  pint  of  water  for  the  day,  and  sick  not  sent  to  the 
hospital  ship,  till  they  were  so  weak  and  ill,  that  they  often  expired  be- 
fore they  got  out  of  the  Jersey.  The  commanding  officer  said  his  or- 
ders were,  if  the  ship  took  fire  we  should  be  all  turned  below  and  perish 
in  the  flames.  By  accident  the  ship  took  fire  in  the  steward's  room, 
when  the  Hessian  guards  were  ordered  to  drive  the  prisoners  below,  and 
fire  among  them  if  they  resisted  or  got  in  the  water. 

Riv.,  Dec.  19,  '80. 

Jxiv.,  Feh.  7,  '81.  Sproat  writes  to  Skinner,  that  very  many  prisoners 
onboard  the  Jersey  are  sick  and  dying,  but  their  disorders  proceed  only 
from  dirt,  nastiness,  and  want  of  clothing.  On  the  first  complaint  made 
about  provisions,  I  went  on  board  the  prison-ship,  wrote  down  in  large- 
hand  on  a  folio  sheet,  the  quantity  of  each  kind  of  provisions  allowed  to 
prisoners,  and  caused  it  to  be  posted  up  in  the  most  public  place  in  the  ves- 
sel, that  each  prisoner  might  get  his  full  quantity :  and  I  ordered  when  a 
cask  of  provisions  was  damaged,  it  should  be  headed  up  and  not  served 
out.  When  I  was  appointed  Commissary,  Oct.  13,  '79,  I  examined 
into  the  state  of  the  prisoners  and  prison-ships  and  reported  to  Ad.  Arbuth- 
not,  who  ordered  me  to  make  every  necessary  regulation  for  the  accom- 
modation of  the  prisoners.      Accordingly  carpenters  ran  a  bulkhead 


AND    PRISON-SHIPS    AT    NEW-YORK.  235 

across  the  prison-ship  Good  Hope  ;  the  officers  berthed  abaft  and  the  men 
before  this  partition.  Two  excellent  large  stoves  were  erected,  one  for 
the  officers,  another  for  the  men.  The  hospital  ship  was  equipped  in 
the  same  manner,  and  every  sick,  or  wounded  person  had  a  cradle,  bed- 
ding, surgeons.  In  this  comfortable  situation  did  the  prisoners  remain  till 
March  5,  '80,  when  they  wilfully  burnt  the  best  prison-ship  in  the  world. 
The  perpetrators  were  not  hanged,  but  ordered  to  the  Provost,  (see  p.  231). 
The  ship  lay  in  the  Wallebocht,  near  a  number  of  transports,  whose 
people  were  so  alert  in  snatching  the  prisoners  from  the  flames,  that  but 
two  out  of  some  hundreds  were  missing.  They  were  put  in  the  nearest 
ship  the  Woodlands,  where  they  remained  a  short  time  till  the  ships  Strom- 
bolo  and  Scorpion  were  got  ready.  The  officers  were  always  admitted 
to  parole  in  that  pleasant  village,  Jamaica,  till  July  10,  '80,  when  many 
of  them  had  broke  their  paroles  and  otherwise  behaved  so  ill,  that  it  was 
refused  them.  This  alteration  had  not  taken  place  above  two  months  when 
the  prisoners  were  all  moved  to  the  ship  Jersey,  where  there  is  a  variety 
of  apartments  for  officers,  and  plenty  of  room  between  decks  for  men.  I 
have  offered  to  exchange  prisoners  man  for  man,  but  if  Congress  retaliate, 
it  will  only  hurry  on  the  miseries  of  the  American  prisoners  faster  than 
Congress  are  aware  of,  and  in  a  short  time  put  the  honor  of  every  man 
to  the  test  who  is  out  on  parole.  Eiv.,  Jan.  29,  '81. 

Peter  Robinson,  acting  purser  of  His  Majesty's  prison-ship,  the 
Jersey,  maketh  oath,  that  he  has  acted  as  purser,  during  the  time  she 
has  been  employed  as  a  prison-ship,  and  that  the  allowance  to  each  pris- 
oner for  one  week  is  66  oz.  of  bread,  43  oz.  of  beef,  92  oz.  pork,  \%  pint 
of  peas,  2  pints  of  oatmeal,  and  8  oz.  butter,  which  quantity  of  provi- 
sions hath  been  and  still  is  served  out  to  each  prisoner  (by  daily  allow- 
ances; every  week,  without  any  deduction,  for  eighths  or  otherwise,  and 
that  such  provisions  have  always  been  the  same  in  goodness  and  quality, 
as  were  supplied  to  the  crews  of  His  Majesty's  said  hospital  ship,  and 
the  other  King's  ships  on  the  American  station.       Gaine,  Feb.  12,  '81. 

Jeremiah  Downer  maketh  oath,  that  he  commanded  His  Majesty's 
prison-ship  the  Strombolo,  in  the  harbor  of  N.  Y.,  from  Aug.  21,  to  Dec. 
10,  1780,  (provisions  as  above,)  and  that  the  number  of  prisoners  con- 
fined on  board,  was  never  less  than  150  at  one  time,  and  frequently 
above  200:  and  only  one  died  in  that  time.  Gaine,  Feb.  12,  '81. 

The  Jersey  was  a  large  and  roomy  vessel,  once  had  carried  64 
guns,  but  now  was  stripped  and  reduced  to  a  naked  hulk.  All  her 
ports  were  close  shut,  which  prevented  any  current  of  air  between 


236  IxNCIDENTS    OF    THE    BRITISH    PRISONS 

decks,  where  the  prisoners  were  all  shutdown  from  sunset  to  sunrise, 
and  during  these  melancholy  hours  all  intercource  with  the  upper 
deck  was  prohibited.  The  guards  were  forbid  on  pain  of  severe  pun- 
ishment, to  relieve  the  wants  of  any  distressed  prisoner.  She  was 
anchored  in  a  solitary  nook,  called  the  Wallebocht,  where  at  low 
water  her  rotten  remains  are  still  to  be  seen,  1803.  At  the  time  I 
was  on  board,  there  were  about  1,100  prisoners,  no  berths  to  lie  in,  or 
benches  to  sit  on  ;  many  almost  without  clothes.  Dysentery,  fever, 
pleurisy,  and  despair  prevailed.  The  scantiness  and  bad  quality  of 
provisions,  the  brutality  of  the  guards,  and  the  sick  pining  for  com- 
forts they  could  not  obtain,  altogether  furnished  the  greatest  scene 
of  human  distress  ever  beheld.  The  weatlier  was  cool  and  dry,  the 
nights  frosty,  so  that  the  number  of  deaths  were  reduced  to  an 
average  of  10  per  day,  which  was  small  compared  with  the  mortality 
for  three  months  before.  The  human  bones  and  skulls  yet  bleach- 
ing on  the  shore  of  L.  I.,  and  daily  exposed  by  the  falling  down  of 
the  high  bank,  on  which  the  prisoners  were  buried,  is  a  shock- 
ing sight.  Talbot,  p.  106. 

I  was  one  of  the  850  souls  confined  in  the  Jersey,  in  the  summer 
of  '81,  and  witnessed  several  daring  attempts  to  escape.  They 
generally  ended  tragically.  They  were  always  undertaken  in  the 
night,  after  wrenching  or  filing  the  bars  of  the  port-holes.  Having 
been  on  board  several  weeks,  and  goaded  to  death  in  various  ways, 
four  of  us  concluded  to  run  the  hazard.  We  set  to  work  and  got 
the  bars  off,  and  waited  impatiently  for  a  dark  night ;  we  lay  in  front 
of  Mr.  Remsen's  door,  inside  of  the  pierhead,  and  not  more  than 
twenty  yards  distant.  There  were  two  guard  sloops,  one. on  our 
bow  and  the  other  oflT  our  quarter,  a  short  distance  from  us.  "  The 
dark  night"  came — the  first  two  were  lowered  quietly  into  the  water 
— the  third  made  some  rumbhng.  I  was  the  fourth  that  descended, 
but  had  not  struck  off  from  the  vessel  before  the  guards  were 
alarmed,  and  fired  upon  us.  The  alarm  became  general,  and  I  was 
immediately  hauled  on  board.  They  manned  their  boats,  and  with 
their  lights  and  implements  of  death,  were  quick  in  pursuit  of  the  un- 
fortunates, cursing  and  swearing,  and  bellowing  and  firing.  It  was 
awful  to  witness  this  scene  of  blood.  It  lasted  about  one  hour — all 
on  board  trembling  for  our  shipmates.     These  desperadoes  returned 

to  their  different  vessels  rejoicing  that  they   killed  three  d d 

rebels. 


AND    PRISONS-SHIPS    AT    NEW-YORK.  237 

About  three  years  after  this,  I  saw  a  gentleman  in  John  street, 
near  Nassau,  who  accosted  me  thus  : — "  Manley,  how  do  you  do  ?" 
I  could  not  recollect  him.  "  Is  it  possible  you  do  not  know  me  ?  re- 
collect the  old  Jersey,"  and  he  opened  his  vest  and  bared  his  breast. 
I  immediately  said  to  him,  "  You  are  James  McClean."  "  I  am," 
he  replied.  We  both  stepped  into  Marrener's  public  house,  at  the 
comer,  and  he  related  his  marvellous  escape  to  me. 

"  They  pursued  me — I  frequently  dived  to  evade  them,  and  when 
I  came  up,  they  fired  on  me,  I  caught  my  breath,  and  immediately 
dove  again,  and  held  my  breath,  till  I  crawled  along  on  the  mud. 
They  no  doubt  thought  they  had  killed  me.  I,  however,  with  much 
exertion,  though  weak  and  wounded,  made  out  to  reach  the  shore, 
and  got  into  a  barn,  not  far  from  the  ship,  a  little  north  from  Mr. 
Remsen's  house.  The  farmer,  the  next  morning,  came  into  his 
barn — saw  me  lying  on  the  floor,  and  ran  out  in  a  fright.  I  begged 
him  to  come  to  me,  and  he  did.  I  gave  an  account  of  myself — where 
I  was  from — how  I  was  pursued,  with  several  others.  He  saw  my 
wounds  ;  took  pity  on  me  ;  sent  for  his  wife,  and  bound  up  my 
wounds,  and  kept  me  in  the  barn  till  nightfall — took  me  into  his 
house — nursed  me  secretly,  and  then  furnished  me  with  clothing, 
&c. ;  and  when  I  was  restored,  he  took  me  with  him,  into  his  market 
boat,  to  this  city,  and  went  with  me  to  the  west  part  of  the  city — 
procured  me  a  passage  over  to  Bergen,  and  I  landed  somewhere  in 
Communipaw.  Some  friends  helped  me  across  Newark  Bay,  and 
then  I  worked  my  way,  until  I  reached  Baltimore,  to  the  great  joy 
of  all  my  friends." 

JNO.  MANLEY. 
New-York,  Seplemher  Isl,  1845. 

Wm.  Burke  says  (N.  Y.,May,  1808)  that  he  was  a  prisoner  in 
the  Jersey  14  months  ;  has  known  many  American  prisoners  put  to 
death  by  the  bayonet.  It  was  the  custom  for  but  one  prisoner  at  a 
time  to  go  on  deck.  One  night  while  many  prisoners  were  assem- 
bled at  the  grate  at  the  hatchway  to  obtain  fresh  air,  and  waiting 
their  turn  to  go  on  deck,  a  sentinel  thrust  his  bayonet  down  among 
them,  and  25  next  morning  were  found  to  be  dead.  This  was  the 
case  several  mornings,  when  sometimes  5,  sometimes  6,  and  some- 
times 8  or  10,  were  found  dead  by  wounds  thus  received. 

Jlisl.  of  the  Martyrs,  p.  89. 
11* 


238  INCIDENTS    OF    THE    BRITISH    PRISONS 

N.  London,  Jan.  30,  '81.  Thirty  American  prisoners  came  in 
a  flag  froiH  N.  Y.  They  left  170  in  the  prison-ship  sick,  and  200  in 
another  ship  ;  7  or  8  died  every  24  hours. 

The  Scorpion,  Hunter,  Strombolo,  and  Jersey,  were  all  prison- 
ships  at  the  same  time  within  7  months.  Feb.  4,  '81.  An  old  64 
gun  ship  is  used  for  the  reception  of  prisoners  ;  2  or  3  of  each  rank 
allowed  to  go  ashore  to  buy  provisions.  The  Strombolo,  from  Aug. 
21  to  Dec.  10,  '8 i,  had  never  less  than  150  prisoners  on  board  ;  oft- 
ener  over  200.  Gaine,  Feb.  12,  '81. 

Capt.  Gaboon,  with  4  others,  escaped  from  the  prison-ship  to  L. 
1.  in  a  boat,  March  8,  notwithstanding  they  were  fired  on  from  the 
prison  and  hospital  ships,  and  pursued  by  guard-boats  from  three  in 
the  afternoon  till  seven  in  the  evening.  He  left  200  prisoners  in 
N.  Y.  Conn.  Jour.,  Mar.  22,  '81. 

Chatham,  May  9,  '81.  Our  prisoners  are  allowed  only  6  oz. 
flour  and  same  quantity  of  pork  (often  very  bad)  per  day.  They  took 
250  prisoners  out  of  prison-ship  and  put  them  on  board  a  man-of- 
war. 

1100  French  and  American  prisoners  died  last  winter. 

Conn,  paper,  May,  '81, 

Extract  of  a  letter  dated  on  board  the  Jersey  (vulgarly  called 
HELL)  PRISON  SHIP,  New-York,  Aug.  10,  1781. 

"  There  is  nothing  but  death  or  entering  into  the  British  service 
before  me.  Our  ship's  company  is  reduced  to  the  small  number  (by 
death  and  entering  into  the  British  service)  of  19.  There  is  a  par- 
tial cartel  arrived  and  brought  1 1  prisoners,  and  the  names  of  so 
many  [American  prisoners  to  be  exchanged]  as  makes  up  that  num- 
ber, sent  from  Boston  by  somebody ;  and  d — n  the  villain  that  trades 
that  way,  though  there  is  many  such  in  Boston,  that  arc  making 
widows  and  fatherless  children  ;  a  curse  on  them  all.  The  Commis- 
sary told  us  one  and  all,  to  th?  number  of  400  men,  that  the  whole 
fault  lays  on  Boston,  and  we  might  all  be  exchanged,  but  they  never 
cared  about  us.  I  am  not  able  to  give  you  even  the  outlines  of  my 
exile ;  but  thus  much  I  will  inform  you,  that  we  bury  6,  7,  8,  9,  10, 
and  1 1  men  every  day :  wc  have  200  more  sick  and  falling  sick 
every  day  ;  the  sickness  is  the  yellow  fever,  small-pox,  and  in  short 
every  thing  else  that  can  be  mentioned.  I  had  almost  forgotten  to  tell 
you  that  our  morning's  salutation  is,  'Rebels!  turn  out  your  deacW  " 


AND    PRISON-SHIPS    AT    NEW- YORK.  239 

Chatham,  N.  J.,  Sep.  5,  '81.  There  has  been  an  entire  exchange 
of  all  our  prisoners.  They  received  1  lb.  flesh,  2  lbs.  bread,  (often 
very  bad,)  and  a  pint  of  rice  per  man,  for  3  days.  The  prison- 
ers taken  at  Ft,  Griswold  were  confined  in  the  Sugar  House.  See 
Barber's  Conn.,  p.  287,  309. — Sep.  11,  '81.  All  our  prisoners  here 
left  the  Sugar  House.  Courant. 

Fishkill,  Nov,  1,  '81.  A  number  of  officers  returned  on  Mon- 
day from  a  tedious  captivity  on  L.  I.,  by  way  of  N.  Jersey. 

N.  London,  Nov.  17,  '81.  A  flag  of  truce  returned  here  from 
N.  Y.  with  132  prisoners,  with  the  rest  of  those  carried  off  by  Ar- 
nold. They  are  chiefly  from  the  prison  ships,  and  some  from  the 
Sugar  House,  and  are  mostly  sick.  (Names  of  sick  and  dead  fol- 
low.) 

Dec.  14,  '81.  A  Flag  from  White  Stone,  waited  10  days,  and  re- 
turned without  answer  or  prisoners.  Conn,  paper. 

Alex.  Cofiin,  jr.,  was  put  in  the  Jersey  in  '82,  where  he  found 
1100  prisoners  in  a  most  deplorable  situation.  Every  spark  of  hu- 
manity had  fled  the  breast  of  British  officers.  "  You  d — d  rebelUous 
Yankee  rascals,"  was  common  language.  In  winter  many  prison- 
ers had  scarcely  clothes  to  cover  tlieir  nakedness.  To  keep  warm 
they  stayed  below,  lay  in  their  hammocks  and  kept  in  constant  mo- 
tion— fed  with  putrid  beef  and  pork  and  worm-eaten  bread ;  the  scent 
of  the  water  would  have  discomposed  the  olfactory  nerves  of  a  Hotten- 
tot. Hogs  were  fed  on  deck,  and  the  prisoners  would  scoop  bran  from 
the  troughs  with  their  tin  pots.  A  second  time  he  went  in  the  Jersey, 
Feb.  and  March,  '83,  and  though  absent  but  a  few  months,  he  found 
more  prisoners  than  he  had  left — but  four  of  his  former  fcllow-j)ri- 
soners ;  some  had  got  away,  but  most  had  died.  There  were  so 
many  prisoners  in  the  Jersey,  that  2  or  300  were  sent  aboard  the 
John,  Transport,  converted  into  a  prison-ship.  Treatment  here 
much  worse  ;  for  a  month  no  fire  to  cook  food  ;  thinks  prisoners  were 
poisoned.  One  Gavot  of  R.  I.  died,  (as  was  supposed,)  and  being 
sewed  up  in  his  hammock,  was  carried  on  deck — the  hammock 
moved.  A  seaman  said  that  man  is  not  dead,  the  officer  replied,  "  in 
with  him  ;  if  he  is  not  dead,  he  soon  will  be."  The  hammock  was, 
however,  ripped  open,  and  the  man  alive !  revived  perhaps  by  a  dash 
of  rain  during  the  night,  HisL  of  Martyrs,  p.  28,  37. 


240  INCIDENTS    OF    THE    BRITISH    PRISONS 

N.  London,  Jan.  4,  '82.  130  prisoners  landed  here  from  N.  Y., 
Dec.  3d,  in  most  deplorable  condition ;  great  part  since  dead,  and  the 
survivors  so  debilitated,  that  they  will  drag  out  a  miserable  exist- 
ence. It  is  enough  to  melt  the  most  obdurate  heart  to  see  these 
miserable  objects  landed  at  our  wharves,  sick  and  dying,  and  the  few 
rags  they  have  on,  covered  with  vermin  and  their  own  excrements. 

Philadelphia,  Feb.  20,  '82.  Many  of  our  unfortunate  prisoners 
on  board  the  prison-ships  in  the  East  River,  have  perished  during 
the  late  extreme  weather,  for  want  of  fuel  and  other  necessaries. 

N.  London,  May  3,  '82.  1000  of  our  countrymen  remain  in 
prison-ships  at  N.  Y.,  a  great  part  in  close  confinement  for  6  months 
past,  and  in  a  most  deplorable  condition.  500  have  died  during  the 
past  five  or  six  months,  300  sick ;  many  seeing  no  prospect  of  re- 
lease, are  entering  the  British  service  to  elude  the  contagion  with 
which  the  prison-ships  are  fraught. 

The  sloop  Chance  was  taken  to  N.  Y.,  May  15,  '8.2.  Of  57 
men,  17  died  in  7  weeks  ;  8  in  the  hospital ;  25  arrived  sick  at  Pro- 
vidence— only  3  or  4  could  walk.  Fishkill,  Nov.  2,  '80. 

New-York,  Ju7ie  1,'82. 
To  Abm.  Skinner  : — 

Sir — His  Excellency  Rear  Admiral  Digby,  has  ordered  me  to  in- 
form you  that  the  very  great  increase  of  prisoners,  and  heat  of  the  wea- 
ther, now  baffles  all  our  care  and  attention  to  keep  them  healthy.  Five 
ships  have  been  taken  up  for  their  reception,  to  prevent  their  being 
crowded,  and  a  great  number  permitted  to  go  on  parole.  In  winter  and 
during  cold  weather,  they  Hved  comfortably,  being  fully  supplied  with 
warm  clothing,  blankets,  &c.,  purchased  with  the  money  I  collected 
from  the  charitable  of  the  city  ;  but  now  the  weather  requires  a  fresh 
supply,  something  light  and  suitable  for  the  season,  for  which  you  will 
be  pleased  to  make  the  necessary  provision,  as  it  is  impossible  for  them 
to  be  healthy  in  the  rags  they  now  wear,  without  a  single  shift  of  cloth- 
ing to  keep  them  clean.  DAVID  SPROAT. 

To  David  Sproat. 

NeioYork,  June  9,  1782. 
Sir  : — From  the  present  situation  of  the  American  naval  prison- 
ers on  board  your  prison-ships,  I  am  induced  to  propose  to  you  the 
exchange  of  as  many  of  them  as  I  can  give  you  British  naval  prisoners 
f  or,  leaving  the  balance  already  due  you  to  bo  paid  when  in  our 


A^'D    PRISON-SHIPS    AT    NEW-YORK.  241 

power.  (Upwards  of  1300  naval  prisoners  have  been  sent  more 
than  we  have  received.)  We  are  unable,  at  present,  to  give  you 
seamen  for  seamen,  and  thereby  relieve  the  prison-ships  of  their 
dreadful  burden  ;  but  it  ought  to  be  remembered,  that  there  is  a  large 
balance  [Sproat  says  only  245. — Ed.]  of  British  soldiers  due  the 
U.  S.  since  February  last,  and  we  may  be  disposed  to  place  the 
British  soldiers  in  our  possession,  in  as  disagreeable  a  situation  as 
these  men  are.  on  board  the  prison-ships. 

ABM.  SKINNER. 

[Sproat  replies,  June  9,  and  refuses  a  partial  exchange. — Ed.] 

Skinner  to  Sproat,  respecting  published  Letters. 

Camp  Highlands,  Ju.  24,  '82. 
Sir  :  *  *  The  design  of  the  British  is,  by  misrepresenting 
the  state  of  facts  with  regard  to  exchanges,  to  excite  jealousy  in  the 
minds  of  our  unfortunate  seamen,  that  they  are  neglected  by  their 
countrymen,  that  all  the  miseries  they  are  now  suffering,  arise  from 
want  of  inclination  in  Gen.  W.  to  exchange  them  when  he  has  the 
power ;  in  hopes  by  this  insinuation  and  by  the  severity  you  make 
use  of  in  confining  them  in  the  contaminated  holds  of  prison- 
ships,  to  compel  them  (to  avoid  the  dreadful  alternative  of  almost 
inevitable  death)  to  enter  into  the  service  of  the  King  of  Great 
Britain.  I  was  present  when  Capt.  Aborn  and  Dr.  Bowen  waited 
on  Gen.  Washington.  He  told  them  that  exchanging  seamen  for 
soldiers,  was  contrary  to  the  original  agreement,  which  specified 
that  officers  should  be  exchanged  for  officers,  soldiers  for  sol- 
diers, citizens  for  citizens,  and  seamen  for  seamen  ;  as  it  was  con- 
trary to  the  practice  of  other  nations,  and  would  be  contrary  to  the 
soundest  policy,  by  giving  the  enerny  a  great  and  permanent  strength, 
for  which  we  could  receive  no  compensation,  or  at  best,  but  a  partial 
and  temporary  one,  he  did  not  think  it  would  be  admissible  ;  but  as 
the  misery  and  mortality  which  prevailed  among  the  naval  prisoners 
was  produced  almost  entin;ly  by  the  mode  of  confinement,  being 
closely  crowded  in  infectious  ships,  (which  had  not  been  cleaned  for 
many  years,)  he  would  write  to  Ad.  Digby,  in  whose  power  it  was 
to  remedy  the  evil,  by  confining  them  on  shore,  or  having  a  sufficient 
number  of  ships  provided  ;  for  it  was  as  preposterously  cruel,  he  said, 
to  confine  800  men  in  one  ship,  at  this  sultry  season,  as  it  would  be 
to  shut  up  the  whole  army  of  Lord  Cornwallis  to  perish  in  the  new 


242  INCIDENTS    OF    THE    BRITISH    PRISONS 

jail  of  Philadelphia  ;  we  had  the  means  of  retaliation  in  our  hands, 
which  he  should  not  hesitate  to  use,  by  confining  the  land  prisoners 
with  as  much  severity  as  our  seamen  were  held.  His  Ex.  (W.) 
suffered  me  to  go  to  N.  Y.,  (see  my  letter,  June  9th,)  to  examine 
into  the  ground  of  the  suffering  of  the  prisoners  and  devise  some  way 
for  their  liberation  or  relief,  A  balance  of  496  land  prisoners  has 
been  due  us  since  Feb.  '82,  besides  which,  I  believe  400  had  been 
sent  in,  (not  250,  as  you  falsely  state  in  a  note  to  my  letter.)  Not- 
withstanding this  balance,  I  was  then  about  sending  in  your  lines,  a 
number  of  land  prisonert.,  as  an  equivalent  for  ours  confined  in  the 
Sugar-house,  without  which  I  could  not  make  interest  to  have  them 
liberated.  I  was  refused  permission  to  visit  the  prison-ships,  for 
which  I  can  conceive  no  other  reason  than  your  being  ashamed  to 
have  these  graves  of  our  seamen  seen  by  one  who  dared  to  repre- 
sent the  horrors  of  them  to  his  countrymen. 

Gaine,  July  8,  '82. 

Sprout  to  Skinner,  N.  Y.,  June  30,  '82. 
When  the  Commissioners  met  at  Elizabethtovvn,  April  1st,  Admiral 
Digby  offered  to  exchange  American  seamen  for  British  soldiers,  man 
for  man,  because  you  had  not  a  sufficient  number  of  British  seamen  to 
give  in  exchange  for  your  own,  and  because  he  foresaw  the  impossibility 
of  keeping  them  healthy  when  the  hot  season  came  on  ;  but  this  gener- 
ous proijosal  was  rejected  by  Washington's  Commissioners.  Call  to 
mind  the  British  sailors  and  soldiers  cooped  up  in  the  jail  at  Philadel- 
phia, as  much  crowded  as  the  prison-ships  are,  fed  on  a  scanty  allow- 
ance of  dry,  stinking  clams,  and  bread  and  water  only,  to  compel  them 
to  enter  on  board  your  privateers. 

Six  masters  of  vessels,  captured  by  British  cruisers,  were  paroled, 
and  requested  to  visit  the  prison-ships  in  company  with  Sproat  and  the 
Surgeon,  who  report :  That  they  found  the  prisoners  as  comfortable  as  is 
possible  for  ihem  to  be  on  board  of  ships,  this  season  of  the  year,  (June 
22,  '82),  and  much  more  so  than  they  had  any  idea  of;  and  found  all 
the  provisions  good  :  which  survey  being  made  before  the  prisoners, 
they  acknowledged  the  same,  and  declared  they  had  no  complaint  to 
make,  but  the  want  of  clothes  and  a  speedy  exchange  :  We  therefore, 
from  this  Report,  and  from  what  we  have  all  seen  and  know,  do  declare 
that  great  commendation  is  due  His  Ex.  Rear  Ad.  Digby  for  his  humane 
disposition  and  indulgence  to  the  prisoners  ;  and  to  the  officers  and  Capt. 
of  His  Majesty's  piison-ship  Jersey,  for  their  attention  in  preserving 


AND   PRISON-SHIPS    AT    NEW-YORK.  243 

good  order,  having  the  ship  kept  clean  and  awnings  spread  over  the  whole 
of  her,  fore  and  aft ;  to  Dr.  Rutherford  and  his  mates,  for  their  constant 
care  and  attendance  on  the  sick,  whom  we  found  in  wholesome  clean 
ships,  also  covered  with  awnings  fore  and  aft,  every  man  furnished  with 
a  cradle,  bed,  and  sheets,  to  lay  in  ;  the  best  of  fresh  provisions,  vegeta- 
bles, wine  rice,  barley,  &c.,  served  out  to  them  ;  and  we  further  declare, 
that  Mr.  Sproat  and  the  gentlemen  acting  under  him,  conscientiously 
do  their  duty  with  great  humanity  and  indulgence  :  which  testimony 
we  freely  give  without  constraint.  Gaine,Juhj  1,'82. 

[This  Report,  doubtless  drawn  up  by  Sproat,  was  signed  jnerely  to 
gratify  the  British  authorities  and  with  a  view  of  obtaining  liberty,  for 
when  once  out  of  the  reach  of  the  enemy,  the  captains  told  a  different 
story. — Ed.] 

Washinglon  to  Ad.  Digby. 

Head-Quarters,  Ju.  5,  '82. 

Sir  : — By  a  parole  granted  to  two  gentlemen,  Messrs.  Aborn 
and  Bowen,  I  perceive  your  excellency  has  granted  them  permission 
to  come  to  me  with  a  representation  of  the  sufferings  of  the  naval 
prisoners  at  N.  Y.  As  I  have  no  agency  on  naval  matters,  this  ap- 
plication is  made  to  me  on  mistaken  grounds.  But  curiosity  leading 
me  to  inquire  into  the  nature  and  cause  of  their  sufferings,  I  am  in- 
formed that  the  principal  complaint  is,  that  of  their  being  crowded, 
especially  at  this  season,  in  great  numbers,  on  board  of  foul  and  in- 
fectious prison-ships,  where  disease  and  death  are  almost  inevitable. 
This  circumstance,  I  am  persuaded  needs  only  to  be  mentioned  to 
your  excellency,  to  obtain  that  redress  which  is  in  your  power  onlij 
to  afford,  and  which  hunjanity  so  strongly  prompts.  If  the  fortune 
of  war,  sir,  has  thrown  a  number  of  these  miserable  people  into 
your  hands,  I  am  certain  your  excellency's  feelings  for  your  fellow 
men,  must  induce  you  to  proportion  the  ships  (if  they  must  be  con- 
fined on  board  ships)  to  their  accommodation  and  comfort,  and  not 
by  crowding  them  together  in  a  few  ships,  bring  on  disorders  which 
consign  them  by  half-dozens  in  a  day  to  the  grave.  The  soldiers  of 
his  Britannic  Majesty,  prisoners  with  us,  were  they  to  be  equally 
crowded  together  in  close  and  confined  prisons,  at  this  season,  would 
be  exposed  to  equal  loss  and  misery. 

Digby  replies,  (iV.  Y.,  Ju.  8,)  that  if  Washington's  feelings  are  like 
his,  he  will  not  hesitate  one  moment  relieving  both  the  British  and 
Americans  suffering  under  confinement.  Gaine,  July  8,  '82. 


244  INCIDENTS    OF    THE    BRITISH    PRISONS 

N.  London,  June  21,  '82.  Sir  Guy  Carlton  has  visited  all  the 
prison-ships  at  N.  Y.,  minutely  examined  into  the  situation  of  the 
prisoners,  and  expressed  his  intention  of  having  them  better  provided 
for.  They  were  to  be  landed  on  Blackwell's  Island  in  the  daytime, 
during  the  hot  season. 

A  Cartel  returned  to  Stonington  with  40  naval  prisoners  from  N. 
Y.     Many  are  sick  with  the  prison  fever  and  small-pox. 

N.  London,  July  26,  '82. 

Aug.  15,  '82.  We  are  now  prisoners  with  the  British,  some  in 
the  New  Jail  or  Provost,  some  in  the  Jersey  ship,  some  in  the  Fal- 
mouth, others  in  the  brig  Lord  Dunluce,  and  others  on  Blackwell's 
Island.  Though  Mr.  Sproat  furnishes  us  with  the  King's  allow- 
ance of  choice  beef,  pork  and  bread,  yet  we  suffer  for  many  things 
[not  in  the  province  of  the  Commissary]  such  as  money  and  clothing, 
but  most  of  all,  our  dear  liberty.  Let  us  urge  our  friends  to  tliink 
seriously  of  our  situation  and  get  us  exchanged.  We  are  well 
supplied  with  medicines  and  good  doctors,  yet  so  many  of  us  arc  to- 
gether this  season,  we  are  sickly,  and  many  die.  We  must  first  look 
to  our  parents,  and  connections,  then  to  our  employers.  Captains  and 
friends,  urging  their  doing  every  thing  to  get  our  relcasement — do 
not  mind  the  expense. — (100  signers.)  Conn.  Gaz. 

Letter  from  a  Privateer  Officer  on  board  the  Jersey. 

Nov.  9,  '82.  The  deplorable  condition  I  am  in,  cannot  bo  ex- 
pressed. The  Capts.,  Lts.  and  sailing-masters  are  gone  to  the  Pro- 
vost, but  they  have  only  got  out  of  the  frying  pan  into  the  fire.  I 
am  left  here  with  about  700  miserable  objects,  eaten  up  with  lice, 
and  daily  taking  fevers  which  carry  them  off  fast. 

Jan.  29,  '83.  Carlton,  in  his  great  clemency,  has  paroled  near 
100  marine  prisoners,  GO  of  whom  came  to  Elizabethtown. 

Boston,  March  17,  '83.  By  cartel  from  N.  Y.  we  learn  the  ene- 
my have  burnt  their  prison-ship  and  set  the  prisoners  on  shore. 

Soldiers'  cribs,  boards,  &lc.,  for  sale  at  the  Brick  Meeting,  and 
Friend's  Meeting,  Queen-St.  Gaine,  Nov.  12,  '83. 

Riv.,  Aug.  16,  '83.  For  sale,  the  Hulls  of  the  "Perseverance 
and  Bristol  Packet,"  Prison  IIosi)ital  Ships,  as  they  now  lie  at  the 
Wallebocht. 


AND   PRISON-SHIPS    AT    NEW-YORK.  245 

FisJikill,  May  8,  '83.     To  all  Printers  of  public  News'papers. 

Tell  it  to  the  world,  and  let  it  be  published  in  every  Newspaper 
throughout  America,  Europe,  Asia  and  Africa,  to  the  everlasting  dis- 
grace and  infamy  of  the  British  King's  commanders  at  New-York  : 
That  during  the  late  war,  it  is  said,  11,644  American  prisoners  have 
suffered  death  by  their  inhuman,  cruel,  savage  and  barbarous  usage 
on  board  the  filthy  and  malignant  British  prison-ship,  called  the  Jer- 
sey, lying  at  N.  Y.  Britons  tremble,  lest  the  vengeance  of  Heaven 
fall  on  your  isle,  for  the  blood  of  these  unfortunate  victims  ! 

AN  AMERICAN. 

[The  above  paragraph  is  the  original  source  of  all  the  reports  of 
the  vast  numbers  who  perished  in  the  prison  ships.  What  number 
died,  cannot  be  even  guessed  at ;  all  is  rumor  and  conjecture,  wheth- 
er it  was  11,500,  or  half  that  number. — Ed.'\ 

David  Sproat,  Esq.,  formerly  merchant  at  Philadelphia,  and  ap- 
pointed Oct.  '79,  Commissary  of  naval  prisoners,  died  Oct.  1,  1799, 
at  his  house  in  Kirkcudbright.  Scotland,  aged  64. 

Joshua  Loring,  formerly  Com.  Gen.  of  prisoners  in  North  Amer- 
ica, died  at  Englefield,  1789,  aged  45. 

The  Life,  Corfession,  and  last  dying  Words  of  Capt.  Cunningham, 
formerly  British  Provost-Marshal  in  the  City  of  New-  York,  ivho 
was  executed  in  London,  the  lOth  August,  1791. 
I,  William  Cunningham,  was  born  in  Dublin  Barracks,  in  the 
year  1738.  My  father  was  Trumpeter  in  the  Blue  Dragoons;  and 
at  the  age  of  eight  years  I  was  placed  with  an  officer  as  his  servant, 
in  which  station  I  continued  until  I  was  sixteen,  and  being  a  great 
proficient  in  horsemanship,  was  taken  as  an  assistant  to  the  riding 
master  of  the  troop,  and  in  1761,  was  made  sergeant  of  dragoons  ; 
but  the  peace*  coming  the  year  following,  I  was  disbanded.  Being 
bred  to  no  profession,  I  took  up  with  a  woman  who  kept  a  gin  shop, 
in  a  blind  alley,  near  the  Cole  Quay,  but  the  house  being  searched 
for  stolen  goods,  and  my  doxy  taken  to  Newgate,  I  thought  it  pru- 
dent to  decamp  ;  accordingly  I  set  off  for  the  North,  and  arrived  at 
Drogheda,  where,  in  a  few  months  after,  I  married  the  daughter  of 
an  exciseman,  by  whom  I  had  three  sons.  About  the  year  1772,  we 
removed  to  Newry,  where  I  commenced  the  profession  of  scaw- 


246  INCICENTS    OF    THE    BRITISH    PRISONS 

banker,  which  is  that  of  enticing  mechanics  and  country  people  to 
ship  themselves  for  America,  on  promise  of  great  advantage,  and  then 
artfully  getting  an  indenture  upon  them,  in  consequence  of  which  on 
their  arrival  in  America,  they  were  sold,  or  obliged  to  serve  a  term 
of  years  for  their  passage.  I  embarked  at  Newry,  in  the  ship  Need- 
ham,  for  New-York,  and  arrived  at  that  port  the  4th  day  of  August, 
1774,f  with  some  indented  servants  I  had  kidnapped  in  Ireland ;  but 
they  were  liberated  in  New-York,  on  account  of  the  bad  usage  they 
had  received  from  me  during  the  passage.  In  that  city  I  used  the 
profession  of  breaking  horses  and  teaching  ladies  and  gentlemen  to 
ride  ;  but,  rendering  myself  obnoxious|  to  the  citizens  in  their  infant 
struggle  for  freedom,  I  was  obliged  to  fly  on  board  the  Asia  man-of- 
war,  and  from  thence  to  Boston,  where  my  own  opposition  to  the 
measures  pursued  by  the  Americans  in  support  of  their  rights,  was 
the  first  thing  that  recommended  me -to  the  notice  of  Gen.  Gage  ; 
and  when  the  war  commenced,  I  was  appointed  Provost-Marshal  J  to 
the  Royal  army,  which  placed  me  in  a  situation  to  wreak  my  ven- 
geance on  the  Americans.  I  shudder  to  think  of  the  murders  I  have 
been  accessory  to,  both  with  and  icithout  orders  from  Government^  es- 
pecially while  in  New-  York,  during  which  time  there  were  more  than 
2000  prisoners  starved  in  the  different  churches^  by  stopping  their  ra- 
tions, lohich  I  sold.\[  There  were  also  275  American  prisoners  and 
obnoxious  persons  executed,  out  of  all  which  number  there  were  only 
about  one  dozen  public  executions,  lohich  chiefly  consisted  of  British 
and  Hessian  deserters.  The  mode  for  private  executions  was  thus 
conducted:  a  guard  was  dispatched  from  the  Provost,  about  half  past 
twelve  at  night,  to  the  Barrack  street,  and  the  neighborhood  of  the  upper 
barracks,  to  order  the  people  to  shut  their  window  shutters,  and  put  out 
their  lights,  forbidding  them  at  the  same  time  to  presume  to  look  out  of 
their  windoivs  and  doors  on  pain  of  dealh,^  after  which  the  unfortu- 
nate prisoners  were  conducted,  gagged,  just  behind  the  upper  barracks, 
and  hung  without  ceremony,  and  there  buried  by  the  black  pioneer  of 
the  Provost.  At  the  end  of  the  war,  I  returned  to  England  with  the 
army,  and  settled  in  Wales,  as  being  a  cheaper  place  of  living  than 
in  nny  of  the  populous  cities  ;  but  being  at  length  persuaded  to  go  to 
London,  I  entered  so  warmly  into  the  dissipations  of  tliat  capital,  that  I 
soon  found  my  circumstances  much  embarrassed,  to  relieve  which  I 
mortgaged  my  half  pay  to  an  army  agent ;  but  that  being  soon  ex- 


AND   PRISON-SHIPS    AT    NEW-YORK.  247 

pended,  I  forged  a  draft  for  £300  sterling,  on  the  Board  of  Ordnance, 
but  being  detected  in  presenting  it  for  acceptance,  I  was  apprehended, 
tried  and  'convicted,  and  for  that  offence  am  here  to  suffer  an  igno- 
minious death.  I  beg  the  prayers  of  all  good  Christians,  and  also 
pardon  and  forgiveness  of  God  for  the  many  horrid  murders  I  have 
been  accessory  to. 

Wm.  Cunningham. 

[*  The  war  against  Spain  began  1762,  and  ended  the  same  or  next 
year. 

t  Biv.,  Aug.  4,  '74.  Yesterday  arrived  the  Needham,  Capt.  Chee- 
vers,  with  300  passengers,  from  Newry.  The  times  of  servants  of  both 
sexes  to  be  disposed  of  [to  pay  for  their  passage.] 

t  Riv.,  March  9,  '75.  Cunningham  and  John  Hill  went  among  the 
*'  Liberty  boys,"  who  seized  and  dragged  him  to  the  Liberty-pole,  and 
would  have  forced  him  to  go  down  on  his  knees  and  d — n  his  popish 
King  George,  had  he  not  been  rescued  by  the  police.  He  had  ample 
opportunity  of  avenging  this  affront  after  he  was  appointed  Provost 
Marshal. 

§  Wm.  Jones  was  Gage's  Provost  Marshal  till  1775,  when  his  name 
no  longer  appears. 

II  Common  fame  charges  Cunningham  with  selling,  and  even  poison- 
ing prisoners'  food,  exchanging  good  for  bad  provisions,  and  drawing 
their  rations  after  death,  or  as  they  worded  it :  "  He  fed  the  dead  and 
starved  the  living."  It  was  not  till  the  spring  of  1783,  that  a  monthly 
list  of  prisoners  was  printed  in  Rivington's  Gazette. 

IT  In  Watson's  Annals  of  New- York,  it  is  stated  that  Cunningham 
hung  five  or  six  of  a  night,  and  that  the  women  of  the  neighborhood, 
pained  by  the  prisoners'  cries  for  mercy,  petitioned  Howe  to  have  this 
practice  discontinued. 

All  the  dates,  historical  and  local  allusions,  in  this  confession,  as  far 
as  I  know,  are  correct ;  which  would  almost  incline  anyone  to  put  faith 
in  the  startling  disclosures  it  makes  of  the  secret  murdering  of  American 
prisoners.  The  question  of  its  genuineness  can  be  put  at  rest  only  by 
referring  to  the  London  newspapers  or  the  records  of  Newgate.  It  was 
printed  in  a  Philadelphia  paper  towards  the  close  of  1791,  (about  the 
time  it  would  probably  reach  there  from  England,)  and  is  spoken  of  as 
just  received  from  London,  and  "  is  authentic."  Thence  it  was  copied 
into  the  Boston  papers,  but  does  not  appear  to  have  attracted  much  at- 
tention.— Ed.] 


248  INCIDENTS    OF    THE    BRITISH    PRISONS 

Ritter,  a  Quaker  preacher,  says  Cunningham,  when  visiting  tlie 
prisons,  carried  his  large  key,  and  knocked  any  one  on  the  head  he 
was  offended  with.  Ritter  was  often  beat  and  bruised  severely  with 
the  butt-end  of  his  whip.  Cunningham  acted  with  peculiar  bursts  of 
passion  when  he  had  heard  bad  news. 

There  appears  to  have  been  no  systematic  plan  of  the  citizens  of 
N.  Y.,  for  relieving  the  prisoners.  We  have  scattering  notices  of  a 
few  charitable  individuals,  such  as  the  following  :  Mrs.  Deborah 
Franklin  was  banished  from  N.  Y.,  Nov.  21,  '80,  by  the  British  com- 
mandant, for  her  unbounded  liberality  to  American  prisoners  ;  Mrs. 
Ann  Mott  was  associated  with  Mrs.  Todd  and  Mrs.  VVhilten  in  re- 
lieving the  suffering  of  American  prisoners  in  N.  Y.,  during  the  revo- 
lution ;  John  Fillis  died  at  Halifax,  1792,  aged  68.  He  was  kind  to 
American  prisoners  in  N.  Y. ;  Jacob  Watson,  Penelope  Hull,  &c., 
are  also  mentioned. 

The  burials  from  the  prison-ships,  were  thus  conducted  :  A 
small  hole  was  dug  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  the  bodies  cast  in,  and 
covered  by  shovelling  sand  down  the  hill  upon  them.  Many  were 
buried  in  a  ravine  of  the  hill ;  some  on  the  farm.  The  whole  shore 
from  Rennie's  Point  to  Mr.  Remsen's  dooryard  was  a  place  of  graves, 
as  was  the  slope  of  the  hill  near  the  house,  (dug  down  by  Mr.  Jack- 
son, when  he  got  the  bones  for  the  procession)  and  the  shore  from 
Mr.  R.'s  barn  along  the  Mill-pond,  to  Rapalje's  farm,  and  the  sandy 
island  between  the  flood-gates  and  the  mill-dam,  while  a  few  were 
buried  on  the  east  shore  of  the  Wallebocht.  More  than  half  the 
dead  buried  outside  the  Mill-pond  (see  map)  were  washed  out  by 
the  waves  at  high  tide,  during  N.  E.  winds.  Their  bones  lay  ex- 
posed along  the  beach  (drying  and  bleaching  in  the  sun,  and  whiten- 
ing the  shore)  till  reached  by  the  violence  of  a  succeeding  storm, 
when  as  the  agitated  waters  receded,  the  bones  were  washed  with 
them  into  the  deep.  The  prisoners  in  the  Jersey  had  obtained  a 
crowbar  which  was  kept  concealed  in  the  berth  of  some  trusty  oflicer, 
and  used  to  break  off  port-gratings  in  stormy  nights.  A  number 
who  were  good  swimmers  tlius  escaped.  Cap.  Doughty,  had  charge 
of  this  bar  while  a  prisoner,  and   escaped  by  this  means. 

Gen,  Johnsov. 

The  long  detention  of  prisoners  on  board  the  prison-ships  must 
in  part  at  least  be  attributed  to  the  Americans  themselves.     Our 


AND    PRISON-SHIPS    AT    NEW-YORK.  249 

privateers  captured  many  British  seamen,  and  should  have  retained 
them  to  exchange  for  our  countrymen  in  captivity,  but  when  willing 
to  enlist,  as  was  generally  the  case,  they  were  received  on  board  our 
ships :  and  even  those  brought  in  port  were  suffered  to  go  at  large, 
on  account  of  the  expense  of  maintaining  them  till  they  could  be  ex- 
changed. 

British  account  of  the  mortality  of  Prisoners. 
P.  Dobbyn,  master  of  a  transport,  thus  writes  from  N.  York, 
Jan.  15,  '77  ;  We  had  4  or  500  prisoners  on  board  our  ships,  but 
they  had  such  bad  distempers,  that  each  ship  buried  10  or  12  a  day. 
Another  writer  (Jan.  14,  '77,)  says,  the  Churches  are  full  of  Ame- 
rican prisoners,  who  died  so  fast,  that  25  or  30  are  buried  at  a  time, 
in  N.  Y.  city.  Howe  gave  all  who  could  walk  their  liberty,  after 
taking  their  oath,  not  to  take  up  arms  against  His  Majesty. 

Mid.  (London)  Journal. 

The  prisoners  taken  in  the  hot  month  of  August,  1776,  had  on 
only  the  lightest  summer  clothing,  and  this  was  all  they  had  to  keep 
off  the  chill  of  a  December  night !  The  dysentery  had  also  prevailed 
among  them,  to  which  now  was  added  the  small-pox  and  other  pri- 
son diseases. 

One  Schureman  and  Lawrence  taken  at  N.  Brunswick,  once 
broke  out  of  the  Sugar  House.  They  were  fed  by  Philip  Kissick, 
and  bribing  the  keeper  for  the  privilege  of  the  yard,  they  gave  the 
guard  liquor  drugged  with  laudanum.  They  dug  through  a  wall 
and  escaped — found  a  fishing-boat  in  the  upper  part  of  the  city, 
paddled  over  the  river,  and  went  to  Morristown. 

Eager' s  Hist,  of  Orange  Co.,  p.  155. 

Jos.  Hedden,  of  New^ark,  an  ardent  Whig,  had  eluded  the  vigil- 
ance of  the  refugees  for  some  time,  but  being  afflicted  with  the  gout 
he  returned  to  his  family.  He  was  taken  from  his  bed  in  the  month 
of  January,  17S0,  and  on  one  of  the  coldest  nights  ever  known,  was 
forced  to  walk  10  miles  without  shoes  or  stockings  (his  feet  wrapped 
in  flannel  on  account  of  his  disorder)  over  the  snow  and  ice,  with- 
out any  garment  except  a  bed  blanket  on  his  shoulders,  to  the  Sugar 
House,  in  N.  Y.,  where  he  remained  till  the  lamp  of  life  was  ex- 
tinguished. He  was  not  allowed  to  accept  of  another  blanket  of- 
fered him  at  the  Ferry. 


250  INCIDENTS   OF    THE    BRITISH    PRISONS. 

For  a  further  account  of  the  discipline,  daily  routine  of  prison 
life,  curious  adventures,  escapes,  anecdotes,  &c.,  the  reader  is  re- 
ferred to  RecoUeclions  of  the  Jersey  Prison  Ship,  by  Capi.  Thos. 
Bring,  Providence,  R.  L,  1829. — The  Old  Jersey  Captive,  by 
Thos.  Andros,  Boston,  1833. — Life  of  Ebenezer  Fox,  of  Roxbury, 
Boston,  1838. — Narrative  of  Col.  Ethan  Allen's  Captivity,  Burling- 
ton, Vt.,  1846. —  Tfie  Interment  of  the  remains  of  11,500  American 
prisoners  at  the  Wallebocht,  "^ew-York,  1808;  and  Freneau's  Poem 
on  the  Prison  Ship. 


APPENDIX 


Forms  of  orders,  c^c,  issued  in  the  Revolution. 

Jamaica,  29,  Aug.,  1776. 
Permit  Isaac  Bennet  to  pass  and  repass  without  molestation. 

WILL.  ERSKINE,  Brig.  Gen. 

Pursuant  to  His  Excellency  Sir  Wm.  Howe's  Proclamation  of  the 
17th  July,  1777  ;  Permission  is  hereby  given  to  Aaron  Van  Nostrand, 
to  carry  to  Jamaica  across  the  Ferry  one  bush.  salt.  He  having  com- 
plied with  the  directions  contained  in  the  above-mentioned  Procla- 
mation. 

New-York,  Superintendent's  Office, Sep.  2Dth,  1777. 

JOHN  NUGENT,  Dep.  Superinten't. 
To  the  Officers  attending. 

Office  of  Police,  Jamaica,  Ap.  18,  1781. 
The  highways  in  Kings  and  Queens  Cos.  requiring  immediate  re- 
pairs, the  several  overseers  are  directed  to  set  about  this  work  necessary 
without  delay,  and  by  laying  fascines  and  covering  them  with  earth,  to 
render  the  sloughs  passable  the   ensuing  season. 

JAS.  CREIGHTON,  Clerk. 

Office  of  Police,  l^th  Aug.,  1781. 
Aaron  Van  Nostrandt  is  directed  forthwith  to  warn  the  inhabitants 
of  Jamaica,  in  the  district  that  usually  work  on  the  highway  leading  to 
Flushing,  and  set  them  to  work  on  said  highway,  and  put  it  into  good 
order.  Those  who  refuse  to  work  after  being  properly  warned,  and  not 
making  a  sufficient  excuse,  he  is  to  fine  8s.  for  each  day's  neglect, 
agreeably  to  the  former  order  of  this  office. 

DAVID  COLDEN,  Ass.  Sup't. 


252  APPENDIX. 

Office  of  Police,  Jamaica,  Oct.  16,  1782. 
Aaron  Van  IVostrandt,  Marshal  of  this  office,  is  appointed  inspector 
of  the  weight  and  quality  of  bread  in  this    town,  with  directions  to 
visit  the  several  bake-houses  once  a  week,  for  the  purpose  of  examining 
the  bread. 

GEO.  D.  LUDLOW,  Sup't. 

South  Hempstead,  Queens  Co.  These  are  to  certify  that  in  the  year 
1776,  before  the  troops  landed  on  L.  L,  a   certain   Col.  Benj.  Birdsall 

and  Col. Cornell  came  to  Jos.  Pettet's,  and  took  away  one  pair  of 

oxen  and  a  five  year  old  steer. 

SAM'L  PETTET,  Executor. 

Hempstead,  Nov.  26,  1776.  To  Mr.  Ashley  ;  Sir  : — Please  to  pay 
the  bearer,  Mr.  Sam'l  Pettet,  the  money  due  for  my  wagon  and  horses 
for  38  days  in  His  Majesty's  service,  and  his  receipt  shall  be  your  dis- 
charge in  full  from  your  humble  servant. 

CHRISTIAN  SNEDECOR. 

Hempstead,  Nov.  20,  1776.  Sir  : — Be  pleased  to  pay  the  bearer, 
Sam'l  Pettet,  the  money  due  for  my  wagon  and  horses  for  43  days  in 
His  Majesty's  service,  and  his  receipt  shall  be  your  discharge  in  full 
from  your  friend. 

FLOWER  HULST. 

Hempstead,  Jan.  4, 1777.  Permit  the  bearer  hereof,  Mr.  Sam'l  Pet- 
tet, jr.,  to  pass  without  hindrance  to  N.  Y.  Island,  and  from  thence  to 
N.  Jersey,  or  until  he  find  his  wagon  and  horses,  now  in  His  Majesty's 
service — said  Samuel  has  always  acted  as  a  friend  to  government. 

S.  CLOWES,  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  Queens  Co. 

Feb.  2,  1780.  It  is  Col.  Hamilton's  positive  orders,  that  I  send 
Benj.  Rainer  and  his  son  Ezekiel,  before  him,  to  answer  to  the  com- 
plaint laid  against  them.  I  do  hereby  command  Sergeant  Elijah  Spragg 
to  take  both  of  them,  and  go  to  Col.  Hamilton's  with  them,  and  to  press 
their  sled  and  horses  to  carry  himself  and  them,  and  desire  Col.  Hamil- 
ton to  let  the  Sergeant  know  who  shall  pay  him  for  his  trouble. 
By  order  of  the  Colonel. 

BENJ.  HEWLETT,  Capt.  Q.  Co.  Militia. 

To  Mr.  Sam'l  Pettet :  It  is  Col.  Hamilton's  orders,  that  the  inhabi- 
tants fetch  the  provisions  for  the  Scgoond[?]  officers.  Several  persons 
arc  appointed  to  go.     It  fell  to  your  brother  Michael's  turn  to  go  to- 


APPENDIX.  25:} 

morrow  morning,  but  as  he  is  unwell,  you  must  take  his  turn  of  duty 
and  he  shall  lake  yours.  You  must  go  to  the  widow  Mott's  to  take  the 
things  to  bring  it  in,  and  there  will  be  some  person  to  go  with  you. 
Saturday  morning,  April  G,  you  must  go. 

BEN  J.  HEWLETT,  Capt. 

June  8, 1782.  Permit  the  bearer  hereof,  Silas  Pettet,  of  HempsteaJ, 
to  pass  to  N.  Y.  and  return,  by  order  of 

BEN  J.  HEWLETT,  Capt.  Q.  Co.  Militia. 

Extracts  from  a  MS.  book  of  Peter  Onderdonk,  of  Cow  Neck,  Queens 
County. 

Sep.  14,  '76.     My  wagon  and  horses  entered  the  King's  service. 

Nov.  21.  My  son  Andrew  returned  sick  from  the  camp — left  my 
wagon  and  horses. 

Oct.  26.  Jona.  Dix  pressed  a  mare  from  me  to  go  in  His  Majesty's 
service. 

April  12,  '79.  Be  it  remembered  that,  April  12,  '79,  were  billeted 
upon  me,  18  Frenchmen,  (Canadians  ?)  in  order  to  cut  all  the  wood  be- 
longing to  Wm.  Cornell  and  Richard  Sands. 

When  Tyranny  holds  up  its  head, 
Then  glorious  liberty  is  fled. 

3Iay  14.  The  above  Frenchmen  went  away,  but  returned  again 
in  parties  for  a  week  afterwards,  and  then  quit,  not  cutting  Richaid 
Sands's  woods. 

Dec.  2.3,  '79.  Jos.  Thome's  order  to  bring  the  Hessian  guard  wood, 
l^ih  of  a  cord,  2  sled-loads. 

July  30,  '80.  Was  cut  and  carted  by  order  of  Robt.  Sutton,  12  loads 
of  wood,  out  of  my  woods,  without  asking  me  liberty. 

Sep.  2i, 'SI.  Hope  Mills,  Dr.  to  two  loads  of  hay  and  one  pair 
wagon-sides.     [Impressed  ? — Ed  ] 

Nov.  13,  '82.  Capt.  Westerhagen  came  here  with  his  company  to 
quarters,  (a  German  hireling,)  and  with  violence  drove  my  sick  daughter 
Elizabeth  and  Jannetie  Rapalje  out  of  their  sick  beds.  Ingratitude  ! 
He  quit  his  quarters  here  Jan.  7,  '83 — a  German  hireling  ! 

Jan.  17,  '83.  Ensign  Wagner  came  here  to  quarter  with  his  guard  ; 
left,  Feb.  28— a  hireling  ! 

Edward  Thome,  Dr.  (on  account  of  the  damage  sustained  by  hi  j 
neglect  of  furnishing  the  troops  with  wood,  quartered  at  Wm. 
Dodge's)  to  cutting  40  walnut  saplings  and  upwards  of  100  chestnut 
rails,  X'20. 

2 


254  APPENDIX. 

The  above  damage  I  received  from  the  troops  of  Capt.  De  Wes- 
terhagen  and  Ensign  Wagner,  done  in  11  weeks;  some  of  the  wood 
was  carried  to  Wm.  Salts's  by  his  soldiers.  This  is  besides  the  wood 
burnt  at  my  house  by  Capt.  Westerhagen,  80  loads,  value,  £60. 

Mte  to  Sec.  218. 
May  18, '77.     Representatives  in  Convention  from  Kings  Co.  were 
Henry   Williams   and    Wm.    Boerum :    from  Suffolk,   Burnet    Miller, 
David  Gelston,  Ezra  L'Hommedieu,  Thos.  Tredwell  and  Thos.  Wicks. 

Note  to  Sec.  689. 
Nath'l  Williams,  of  Huntington,  swore  July  4,  '79,  that  he  had 
been  twice  robbed  by  the  rebels  of  £450  money,  and  £70  in  goods  ; 
and  had  had  no  correspondence  Avith  his  son  and  two  daughters,  who 
live  with  the  rebels.  Jonas  Rogers  (also  accused  of  smuggling  goods 
to  Conn't)  swore  he  had  no  intercourse  with  his  son,  who  is  said  to 
have  come  plundering  on  L.  I.  Gaine,  July  12. 

Eev.  Abm.  Keteltas — Note  to  Sec.  3. 
At  the  outbreak  of  the  revolution,  Mr.  K.  was  a  leading  Whig  at 
Jamaica.  In  Gaine's  paper  of  Feb.  13,  1775,  he  is  charged  with 
threatening  to  shoulder  his  musket  before  he  would  pay  the  tax  on  tea. 
In  the  next  paper  appears  an  able  vindication  of  his  conduct.  He  was 
chosen  deputy  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  and  at  the  abandonment  of 
the  Island,  he  fled  to  the  Main,  leaving  three  houses  in  N.  Y.  city,  and 
a  large  farm  with  slaves,  cattle,  and  a  furnished  house  on  it.  He  had 
100  acres  of  woodland  cut  off.  His  house  was  occupied  by  Gen.  Skin- 
ner and  other  Tories,  and  much  injured.  He  lived  at  Norwalk,  Dan- 
bury,  and  other  parts  of  New  England,  and  at  the  peace  returned  home 
much  reduced.  See  Trumbull  papers,  vol.  18,  117. — Of  his  sermons 
the  following  have  been  printed.  The  Religious  Soldier,  preached  at 
Elizabcthtown,  to  the  regular  oflrcers  and  soldiers  going  to  the  Cana- 
dian war,  March  8,  1759.  A  Charity  Sermon  preached  in  the  French 
Protestant  Church,  N.  Y.,  (of  which  he  was  pastor),  Dec.  27,  1773; 
Sermon  at  an  evening  Lecture,  at  Newburyport,  Oct.  5,  1777,  and  a 
Sermon  on  Extortion,  preached  at  Newburyport,  Feb.  15,  1778. 

Note  to  Sec.  721. 
July,  1815.  12  tons  of  pig  iron  and  a  long  32  lb.  cannon  were  taken 
up  by  a  diving  machine  in  Fortpond  Bay,  being  the  wreck  of  the  Cul- 
lodcn.  X.  7.  Star,  July  26. 


APPENDIX.  255 

Note  to  Sec.  707. 
John,  son  of  Wm.  Smith,  of  St.  George's  Manor,  and   Wm.  Philips, 
late  overseer  of  Wm  Floyd,  left  L.  I.  with  much  money  for  Con't. 

Gaine,  March  30/78. 

Note  to  Sec.  119. 
No  sooner  had  Jost  Monfort  fled  than  Capt.  Sneden  and  N.  C.  came 
to  his  residence,  and  were  taking  an  inventory  of  stock,  grain,  &c., 
with  a  view  to  its  confiscation,  when  his  father  told  them  the  property 
was  not  Jost's  but  his.  Thereupon  they  went  off.  Jost  had  three  sons, 
Peter,  Abraham,  and  George,  in  the  army  at  Brooklyn.  Thfey  had  just 
returned  home,  when  some  British  light  horse  rode  up  to  the  house  by 
night.  They  escaped  by  a  back  door.  The  light  horse,  however,  by 
mistake  seized  their  brother  Jacobus,  who  had  not  been  in  arms,  and 
to  prevent  his  escaping,  the  drunken  guard  made  him  sit  up  undressed 
all  night  by  the  fireside.  He  pointed  a  pistol  at  his  mother,  threatened 
to  rip  open  the  feather  beds  because  she  could  not  tell  where  her  sons 
had  fled,  made  her  draw  cider,  &c. ;  and  to  terrify  her  still  more,  he 
presented  his  sword  to  Jacobus,  and  then  drawing  forth  his  pistol,  in- 
sisted on  a  mock  fight.  After  he  had  thus  trifled  the  night  away,  early 
next  morning  he  went  off  with  his  prisoner  to  the  Hollow  before  Squire 
Van  Wyck,  where  to  his  mortification  he  found  he  had  caught  the 
wrong  person.  At  another  time  some  soldiers  piloted  by  Tories  came 
to  his  house,  and  wantonly  fired  into  the  turkey-roost,  took  four  loads 
of  corn  from  his  crib,  jumped  into  the  hog-pen,  run  their  swords  into 
two  of  the  hogs,  threw  them  into  a  wagon  and  carried  them  off*  to 
Jamaica.  They  also  drove  off' two  fat  cattle.  While  the  Tories  were 
thus  annoying  him,  Monfort  used  to  tell  them,  he  hoped  to  see  the  day 
when  he  should  have  satisfaction.  "Ah,"  said  Squire  Van  Wyck, 
"  you  may  live  in  hope,  but  you'll  die  in  despair." 

liaising  the  Hulk  of  the  Hussar — Note  to  Sec.  146. 
In  July,  1821,  Mr.  Palmer  on  board  a  U.  S.  gun-boat,  had  got  up 
the  rudder  of  the  Hussar  with  his  diving  bell.  In  Dec.  1819,  Sam'l 
Davis  had  raised  40  feet  of  the  stern,  when  the  vessel  broke,  and  the 
fore  part  settled  down  on  the  rocks.  Some  cannon  and  shot  were 
brought  up  with  the  stern,  but  no  specie,  of  which  she  was  said  to  have 
nearly  ^100,000  on  board.  In  Oct.,  1825,  Major  Bayard  was  em- 
ployed as  engineer,  who  placed  several  chains  under  her  bottom,  and 
by  tho  aid  of  screws,  hoped  to  raise  her  to  the  surface,  but  failed. 


25^ 


APPENDIX. 


Note  io  Sec.  336. 
Ilenr)''  Allen,  of  Great  Neck,  was  robbed  by  some  persons  who 
first  called  up  David  Allen  and  made  him  cross  the  creek  with  them, 
and  knock  in  a  seeming  friendly  way  at  his  door.  On  hearing  the 
sound  of  David's  voice,  the  door  was  at  once  opened  and  ihe  robbers 
entered. 

Note  to  Sec.  412. 
As  the  Rev.  John  Bowden  rode  up  to  a  house  in  Smithtown,  he 
was  captured  by  a  concealed  party  of  whale-boatmen.  Why,  gentle- 
men, said  he,  what  shall  I  do  ?  I  am  too  feeble  to  go  with  you,  it  will 
kill  me  !  Then  you  can  sign  a  parole,  and  we  will  exchange  you  for 
the  Rev.  Mr,  Mather,  said  they.  That  I  will  readily  do,  rejoined 
the  Parson. 

Note  to  Sec.  3G8. 

Tunis  Bogart  and  Dan'l  Luyster,  were  returning  from  a  funeral, 
Sep.  2,  177G,  when  they  were  arrested  by  the  Halls,  of  Lloyd's  Neck, 
(who  had  also  a  prisoner  from  the  Main  shore)  and  carried  to  Herricks. 
It  was  late  and  the  guard  would  not  disturb  the  officers.  So  they  were 
all  put  in  a  room  in  charge  of  the  Halls,  who  were  now  drunk.  The 
man  from  the  Main  slipped  off'  while  the  Halls  were  asleep.  In  the 
morning,  Bogart  and  Luyster  were  examined  and  set  at  liberty,  but 
they  had  not  yet  reached  home  before  they  were  impressed  with  their 
wagons  to  cart  cannon  and  shot  from  New  Utrecht  to  Hell  Gate.  B. 
had  a  load  in  his  wagon  for  some  weeks,  and  finally  crossed  over  at 
Hell  Gate  and  left  his  load  in  the  upper  part  of  the  city.  There  he  saw 
the  execution  of  Hale.  Becoming  sick,  he  left  his  wagon  in  care  of  a 
hired  driver  and  returned  home.  His  brother  George  was  sent  to  take 
charge  of  the  wagon,  but  as  he  was  passing  through  Jamaica,  he  was 
betrayed  by  one  Remsen,  his  fellow-traveller,  and  was  forced  to  enlist 
in  Capt.  Dunbar's  company,  to  escape  imprisonment.  When  his  father 
heard  of  his  being  in  duress,  he  went  to  Jamaica,  and  procured  his  re- 
lease and  sent  him  on  to  N.  Y.  He  was  present  as  a  wagoner,  at  the 
capture  of  Ft.  Washington,  and  afterwards  crossed  with  the  army  into 
Jersey  ;  where  Dan'l  Luyster  died  of  small-pox. 

Note  to  Sec.  7G9. 
One  Green,  it  is  said,  shot  a  whale-boatman  at  the  head  of  Pat- 
chogue  swamp,  who  had  come  over  from  the  Main  after  the  peace,  and 
collected  some  ransom  money  from  persons  he  had  liberated  during  the 
war.     Nothing  was  ever  done  with  him. 


APPENDIX.  257 

Note  to  Sec.   65. 

At  11  this  evening,  250  men  under  Majors  and  Livingston 

marched  to  rout  a  number  of  Tories  in   the  swamps  of  L.  I.,  and  to 
pick  up  such  men  as  are  inimical  to  the  liberty  of  America. 

Webb,  June  23. 
Note  to  Sec.  109. 
Eagle  and  Penfold,  Committee-men,  report  to  Gen.  Heath,  at  Kings- 
bridge,  Aug.  29,  that  the  light  horse  in  companies  of  8  or  10,  are  pil- 
laging at  Flushing.     Major  Bowne  was  seen  bound  in  their  hands. 

"  Their  scouting  parties  consist  of  about  300  horse,  and  400  foot, 
with  Tory  recruits."  Livingston,  Southold,  ^ug:.  31. 

Sexton's  Bill — note  to  Sec.  259. 

Jamaica,  Oct.  24,  1780. 
Gen.  Delancet, 

To  Grace  Church,  Dr. 

To  digging  a  grave  for  Maj.  Waller,         -         -         -         -       £0  10 

"  Funeral  Bell. 0     5 

"  Use  of  Church  Pall, 0     4 

"  Inviting,  and  attending  funeral,      -         -         -         -         -016 

.£1   15 
Sexton's  hill — note  to  Sec.  245. 

Jamaica,  Sep.  12,  1779. 
Mrs.  Brewerton, 

To  Grace  Church,  Dr. 
To  Inviting,  and  attending  Col.  Brewerton,     -         -         -        £0  16 

"  Funeral  Bell, 0     5 

"  Digging  grave  and  burying  corpse,     -         -         -         -  1   12 

"  Cleaning  the  Church, 0  12 

:e3     5 

Note  to  Sec.  292.  - 
Dover,  June  23,  '77.  F.  B.,  said  she  did  not  remove  on  account  of 
expense,  being  discouraged  by  P.  Corney.  She  signed  the  paper  with- 
out reading  it.  She  suffered  much  by  the  British.  Her  house  was 
plundered  of  many  valuables.  They  left  her  with  many  curses  and 
threats  about  her  rebel  husband.  She  lost  2  pair  fat  oxen,  6  head  fat 
cows,  30  store  cattle,  2  pair  work  oxen,  2  ox  carts,  2  horses,  a  good 
new  wagon,  90  sheep,  poultry,  &c.,  &c  ,  &c. 

XXXVIII.  147.  m.  Jour, 


258 


APPENDIX. 


Note  to  Sec.  555. 
Field  and  Siaf  Officers,  1st  Beg.  of  Suffolk  Co. 
Wm.  Floyd,  Col. ;    Gilbert  Potter,  Lt.   Col. ;    Jeffery   Smith,  and 
Jesse  Brush,  Majors;    Philip  Roe,  Adj.  ;  John  Roe,  Q.  M. 


Capt's.  Names. 

2 

ft 

re 

en 

m 

c 

1 

O 

4; 

tii 

in 

o 

o 

>-i 

c=q 

M 

o 

o 

W 

fe 

fu 

b- 

Sam'l  Johnson, 

2 

4 

4 

102 

117 

Eben  Miller, 

2 

4 

4 

1 

56 

71 

Nathan  Rose, 

2 

4 

4 

98 

113 

Wm.  Brewster, 

2 

4 

4 

67 

82 

Philetus  Smith, 

2 

4 

4 

67 

82 

Joshua  Rogers, 

2 

4 

4 

101 

114 

Epenetus  Conklin, 

2 

4 

4 

85 

99 

Joel  Skudder, 

2 

4 

4 

51 

65 

John  Buffet, 

2 

4 

4 

38 

52 

Piatt  Vail, 

2 

4 

4 

44 

59 

Gilbert  Carll, 

2 

4 

4 

41 

56 

Benajah  Strong, 

2 

4 

4 

23 

38 

Dan'l  Roe's       > 
Minute  Comp.  \ 

1 

2 

1 

4 

4 

1 

1 

1 

61 

76 

13 

26 

13 

52 

52 

13 

13 

13 

8341024 

1 

Hempstead  Petitioners  against  driving  off  Stock — Note  to  Sec.  79. 
Silvanus  Beadle,  David  Batty  ;  Jas  ,  Jos.,  John  and  Oliver  Birdsall  ; 
Jas.  Burch,  Carman  Burtis,  Smith  Brush,  Silas  Carman,  Jos.  Carpenter, 
David  Casseboom,  Wm.  and  Johaimes  Covert  ;  Benj.  Cromwell,  Thos. 
Dean,  St.  Denton,  Israel  Eldert,  John  Ellsworth,  Lawrence  Fish,  Luke 
Fleet,  Zophar  Hawkins,  Hend'k  Hendrickson  ;  Sam'l,  Jacob,  Richard 
and  Oba.  Jackson  ;  Gilbert,  Wm.  and  John  Jones;  Tise  Lane,  John 
Lewis,  Garret  Monfort,  Dan'l  Nostrant,  Israel  Oakley,  V.  H.  Peters, 
Jas.  Pine,  Thos.  Place,  Sol.  Poole,  Henry  Pageot,  [?]  Jas.  Ryder ; 
Benj.,  John,  John  W.,  Oba.,  Jacob,  Sam'l,  Sol.,  Williams  and  Zeb.  Sea- 
man ;  Embree  Shadbolt,  John  Simonson,  Nathan  Skidmore  ;  Ger.shom 
and  Richard  Smith  ;  Christoffel  Stimeston,  Jacob  and  Richard  Totten, 
Benj.  and  Thos.  Tredwell  ;  Jas.,  Cor.  and  Gabriel  Van  Cott  ;  Garret 
Van  Nostrand,  Henry  Walters,  Benj.,  Wm.  and  Jacob  Wanser ;  John 
and  Zeb.  Williams  ;  Geo.  and  Anthony  Wright. 


1780. 

1st  Bat. 

2d  Bat. 

Col.  Cortland  Skinner, 

Lt.  Col.  St.  Delancey, 

Isaac  Allen, 

Maj.  Thos.  Millege, 

Robt.  Drummond, 

APPENDIX,  259 

Skinnei^s  Brigade— Note  to  Sec.  483. 
1778. 
Lt.  Cols. — Elisha  Skinner,  John  Morris,  Abm.  Van  Buskiik,  Jos. 
Barton,  Isaac  Allen. 

Majors — Thos.  Lawrence,  John  Antill,  John  Colden,  John  Drum- 
mond, Philip  Van  Cortland,  Dau'l  Isaac  Brown,  Robert  Tympany, 
Thos.  Millege,  John  Barns,  Richard  Stockton. 


3J  Bat. 

Abm.  Van  Buskirk, 
Ph.  Van  Cortland. 

Fight  in  Hempstead  Swamp — Note  to  Sec.  65. 
N.  Y.  Juve  24,  '76.  A  party  of  our  men  went  to  L.  I.  last  Saturday 
(June  20,)  to  take  up  some  Tories.  They  returned  yesterday  (Sunday) 
with  one  Downing,  charged  with  being  in  the  hellish  plot  [to  rise  when 
the  British  landed,  seize  the  passes  to  N.  Y.,  kill  Washington,  blow  up 
the  magazines,  &c.].  They  took  6  prisoners  and  put  them  in  Jamaica 
Jail.  The  Tories  made  some  resistance,  and  fired  on  our  men  in  the 
woods  ;  our  people  returned  the  fire,  and  wounded  one  man  mortally  ; 
they  then  called  for  quarters.  [One  of  Washington's  guards,  Thos. 
Hickey,  was  hung  last  Friday,  June  28,  being  one  of  the  plotters,  in 
presence  of  20,000  spectators.     See  Sparks,  III.  4U.—Ed.] 

Ludloio  to  Silliman — Note  to  Sec.  365. 

A  plundering  party  under  Fred'k  Denison,  came  from  Greenwich  to 
Hempstead  Harbor,  Saturday  night,  Sep.  30,  '80,  and  plundered  Chas. 
Doughty,  a  Quaker  shopkeeper,  at  Foster's  Meadow,  of  goods,  money 
and  apparel,  equal  to  jElSOO.  Oba.  Valentine  was  one  of  them  and  a 
guide.  They  returned  with  their  plunder  to  Daniel  Lyons,  at  Coscob. 
The  boat  belonged  to  Skudder  Valentine. 

Silliman  replies,  Oct.  12,  that  he  will  search  for  the  offenders,  and 
send  for  Doughty  to  testify. 

Exchange  of  Judge  Jones — Note  to  Sec.  402, 

Gen.  Silliman  says,  "I  left  N.  Y.  Wednesday  last,  to  be  exchanged 

for  Judge    Jones.     Thursday,  3.  P.  M.,  met   Jones  in  the  Sound   near 

Hart  I.     I  put  back  and  came  under  the  stern  of  the  guard  ship,  Grand 

Duke,  Capt.  Holman,  which  lay  between  City  and  Hart  I.     Having  ex- 


260  APPENDIX. 

changed  vessels,  the  favoring  wind  and  tide,  which  carried  Jones  to 
N.  Y.  that  evening,  prevented  my  reaching  home  till  nest  day  even- 
ing. 

Capt.  George  Lyman,  who  had  some  time  previously  robbed  Col. 
Floyd,  and  had  command  of  3  whale-boats,  lost  his  liberty  in  carrying 
off  Judge  Jones,  and  was  put  in  the  Sugar  House. 

Note  to  Sec.  162. 
Alex.  Grant,  who  was  afterwards  killed  at  Ft.  Montgomery,  took 
possession  of  B.  Coe's  farm,  in  '77.  His  family  kept  it  till  the  peace. 
To  repay  liim  for  the  waste  and  injury  the  State  indemnified  him  from 
Grant's  estate  in  N.  Y.,  and  allowed  him  to  file  a  declaration  against 
Grant's  heirs,  as  G.  had  a  large  estate  in  N.  Y. Passed,      Ap.  23,  '85. 

Fort  on  Llotjd*s  Neck— Note  to  Sec.  410. 
The  Fort  on  Lloyd's  Neck  is  an  irregular  square,  has  a  fosse  4  ft. 
deep  and  wide,  nearly  surrounding  it ;  frized  on  every  part,  upright 
pickets  8  ft.  high  and  4  in.  diameter,  (mostly  of  round  staddlewood)  are 
placed  in  the  centre  of  the  ditch  and  another  row  of  pickets  without  the 
ditch,  and  an  abattis  without  the  whole.  A  wagon  passage  opens  into 
the  Fort,  and  is  not  obstructed  by  a  gate.  Near  the  centre  of  the  Fort 
is  a  blockhouse  of  4  in.  plank  without  loopholes.  On  the  walls  of  the 
Fort  are  mounted  4  long  12  pounders  and  two  3  pounders,  and  in  the 
Fort  a  brass  4  lb.  field-piece.  By  day  2  men  are  in  the  Fort,  by  night 
8:  the  rest  in  barracks  and  encamped  from  100  to  300  yds.  from  the 
Fort.  A  picket  is  kept  at  a  high  bluflfnear  the  entrance  of  Huntington 
Harbor.     Two  miles  w-est  is  a  sandy  beach  and  no  guard  there. 

Trumbull,  XV.  325. 

Troops  in  Queens  Co. — Report  of  Spies. 
Aug.  7,  '77.  British  have  300  men  at  Huntington  ;  at  Setauket 
250.  They  have  made  store-houses  of  the  meeting-houses,  and  erected 
Forts  around  them.  Feb.  9,  '78.  One  regiment  at  Brooklyn,  one 
(Scotch)  at  Flushing  ;  one  regiment  Greencoats,  at  Hcrricks  ;  one  at 
Jamaica.  Feb.  16,  '79.  17th  Dragoons  (300)  and  Lord  Cathcart's  Legion 
(50)  on  L.  L  ;  14  companies  Grenadiers  (700)  at  Jamaica  ;  1st  batta- 
lion Hessian  Chasseurs  (350)  at  Flushing;  Ludlow's  battalion  (150) 
at  Lloyd's  Neck  ;  Simcoe's  Rangers  (250)  on  L.  L  Juhj  7,  'f^l.  Jagers 
removed  from  N.  side  of  Hemp.  Plains  to  Kingsbridge.  Lloyd's  Neck 
evacuated  by  Col.  Hewlett  and  his  party,  who  now  lie  encamped  just 
out  of  the   town  spot  of  Jamaica,  a  little  to  the  East.      The  Loyal 


APPENDIX.  261 

Refugees,  now  commanded  by  Hubbel,  amount  to  200  or  300  men. 
The  17th  horse  removed  from  Hemp,  to  Success,  for  convenience  of 
pasture,  June,  '81.  Major  Fitch  says,  regular  troops  on  L.  I.  lay  as 
far  east  as  Jamaica,  w^here  are  300  ;  17th  dragoons  (300)  in  the  vici- 
nity of  Flushing  ;  150  Associated  Loyalists  at  Lloyd's  Neck,  who  draw 
270  rations,  one  for  man,  half  for  w^oraan,  quarter  for  child.  No  date. 
At  Jamaica  is  Ludlow's  regiment,  350  men  ;  at  Flushing  Fly,  Arnold's 
corps,  200  ;  at  Fresh  Meadows,  17th  dragoons;  between  Jamaica  and 
Bedford  are  Murray's  corps,  150  ;  at  Brooklyn,  Grenadiers  of  47ih  re- 
giment, and  some  German  recruits.  None  of  the  above  can  help 
Slongum  or  Lloyds  Neck.  Slongum  mounts  2  six  pounders,  and  is  of 
little  strength. 

Feb.  6,  '82.  At  Jamaica  2  battalions  Grenadiers,  800  men  ;  at 
Flushing,  38th  and  5-Uh  regiments;  at  Hempstead,  17th  dragoons;  at 
Herricks,  Hessian  Jagers  ;  at  Hallei's  Cove,  Royal  Forresters  ;  at  New- 
town, Garrison  of  Pensacola.  July  5,  '82.  Lloyd's  Neck,  supposed  to 
be  weak,  commanded  by  Maj.  Hubbel — 200  men  without  discipline 
and  off  their  guard — subsist  by  trading  to  Con't,  daily  diminishing. 
Their  protection  by  water  is  a  brig,  sloop,  and  galley.  At  Success 
Church,  one  or  2  miles  from  Herricks,  is  Col.  Murray's  horse  and  2  regi- 
ments of  Jagers  and  Anspach,  in  all  1,000  men  ;  300  of  which  said  to 
be  horse,  and  all  commanded  by  Col.  Wormb.  May  23,  '62.  The 
wagons  and  horses  of  the  Refugee  Post,  at  Lloyd's  Neck,  were  sold 
yesterday  at  Vendue.  Dec.  18,  '82.  Fitch  says,  Thompson's  corps, 
the  remains  of  the  Queen's  Rangers,  and  Tarlton's  Legion  (5  or  600) 
are  at  Huntington,  to  protect  the  trade  with  the  Main.  At  Norwich  the 
remains  of  the  Anspach  regiment,  150  men  ;  the  Hessian  and  Anspach 
Jagers  lay  at  Wheaily,  Jericho,  Westbury,  Herricks,  Northside,  Cow 
and  Great  Neck,  (in  all  930,)  under  Wormb  and  Preuschenck  ;  at  Hemp- 
stead are  4  companies  of  17th  dragoons  ;  at  Jamaica,  are  Pinon's  and 
Kniphausen's  regiment ;  at  Flushing,  Delancey's  3d  battalion. 

Troops  on  Long  Island — Report  of  Spies.  Dec,  1782. 
Information  by  0.  S.  ij  T.  L.,  Inhabitants  of  Kings  County,  at  Brooklyn 
and  the  Ferry. 
Hackenbergh's  regiment  of  Hessians,  in  the  large  Fort  back  of  the 
Ferry,  and  in  the  redoubts — number  uncertain  ;  at  Bedford,  the  Gar- 
rison Battalion  of  invalids,  about  100  total,  half  officers  ;  quartered  in  the 
inhabitants'  houses  ;  at  New  Utrecht  and  Gravesend,  Col.  Purbeck'a 
regiment  of  Hessians,  about  350   total,  in  the  inhabitants'  houses  ;  at 


262  APPENDIX. 

the  Narrows,  Yellow  Hook  and  Denyse's,  are  Col.  Chambers'  Maryland, 
and  Col.  Allen's  Pennsylvania,  Loyalists,  170  total,  half  officers;  at 
Rushwick,  2  companies  pioneers,  60  total,  chiefly  blacks,  in  the  inhabi- 
tants' houses.  The  above  troops  have  been  a  considerable  time  in  the 
abovesaid  places,  and  are  supposed  to  be  stationary  for  the  winter  sea- 
son ;  at  Flushing,  Ludlow's  regiment,  about  380  total ;  head  of  the  Fly, 
remains  of  Col.  Fanning's  and  Col  Robinson's  regiments,  number  un- 
known ;  at  Jamaica,  remains  of  2  Hessian  regiments,  about  250  total ; 
at  Hempstead,  4  companies  of  the  17lh  Light  Dragoons.  These  have 
been  some  time  in  the  above  places,  chiefly  in  the  inhabitants'  houses, 
cannot  tell  whether  stationary  or  not ;  at  Huntington,  Col,  Thompson's 
corps,  the  remains  of  the  Queen's  Rangers  and  Legion,  number  unknown, 
supposed  to  be  stationary  ;  at  Cow  Neck,  and  from  Herricks  to  Nor- 
wich in  Queens  Co.,  is  Col.  Wormb's  regiment,  about  800  foot  and  100 
cavalry,  quartered  in  the  inhabitants'  houses,  have  been  there  four 
weeks  ;  supposed  to  be  stationary  for  the  winter  season. 

Information  hy  P.  T.,  an  inhabitant  of  Queens  Co. 
At  Hempstead,  4  companies  of  the  17th  Light  Dragoons,  exactly 
TOO  total,  commanded  by  a  Capt.,  the  horses  very  poor  and  unfit  for 
service  ;  this  corps  consists  of  6  companies,  2  of  which  are  on  York 
Island  ;  Col.  Wormb's  regiment,  about  900  total,  160  of  them  mounted  ; 
they  begin  at  Jericho  and  Norwich,  and  extend  12  miles  westward,  as 
far  as  Herricks,  and  the  head  of  the  Necks,  They  are  chiefly  in  the 
inhabitants'  houses,  and  have  been  there  about  4  weeks  ;  supposed  to 
be  stationary.  The  chief  picket  guard  is  at  Hempstead  Harbor.  Ma- 
gazines of  forage  to  be  fixed  at  Herricks,  Jericho,  Norwich,  Westbury, 
and  Hempstead  Harbor  ;  no  forage  on  hand  at  present  only  for  present 
use  ;  at  Huntington,  Col.  Thompson's  regiment,  the  remains  of  the 
Queen's  Rangers,  and  the  Legion,  being  560  effectives.  This  was 
taken  from  the  Quarter  Master's  return  made  out  to  draw  clothing  ; 
supposed  to  be  stationary. 

Information  hy  T.  S.,  an  inhabitant  of  Cow  Neck. 
At  Cow  Neck,  are  the  Hesse  Hanau  troops  which  arrived  about  18 
months  since,  being  the  last  Dutch  troops  which  arrived,  being  470  in 
number,  commissioned  officers  excepted,  70  of  said  numl)er  sick  and 
unfit  for  duty.  This  return  was  taken  from  the  Quarter  Master's  book. 
They  lay  as  low  as  Doctor  Brooks's,  where  a  guard  is  kept,  about  a  ^ 
mile  from  the  water-side,  (juartercd  in  the  inhabitants'  houses,  com- 
manded by  Lt.  Col.  Yannakie,  under  command  of  Col.  Wormb  ;  have 


APPENDIX.  '  263 

been  there  near  4  weeks,  and  supposed  to  be  stationary  for  the  winter 
season,  A  very  strong  picket  kept  at  Hempstead  Harbor  of  Col, 
Wormb's  Yagers. 

Information  by  J.  T.,  an  inhabitant  of  Queens  County. 
The  troops  at  Cow  Neck,  Herricks,  Westbury,  Wheatly,  Northside, 
Jericho,  and  Norwich,  commanded  by  Col.  Wormb,  do  not  exceed  1000 
total  ;  quartered  in  the  inhabitants'  houses,  and  expect  them  to  be  sta- 
tionary for  the  winter  season.  An  Officer  and  a  Quarter  Master  have 
been  and  marked  the  houses  in  Wolver  Hollow,  and  Cedar  Swamp, 
for  quarters  for  the  troops,  which  are  arrived  from  Charleston  ;  could 
not  learn  the  number,  expect  they  will  be  stationary.  The  Hessian 
officers  on  parole  at  Matinecock  and  Lattingtown,  say  they  expect  to  be 
removed  to  Jerusalem,  in  order  to  make  room  for  the  troops  arrived  from 
Charleston. 

Information  by  T.  B.,  a  Refugee  from  Queens  County,  residing  in  Stam- 
ford:    went   over   and  got    the  following  account: 

At  Huntington,  Thompson's  corps,  and  the  remainder  of  the 
Queen's  Rangers  and  Legion,  500  total  ;  at  Norwich,  the  remains  of  the 
Anspach,  130  total ;  at  Jericho,  Wheatly,  Westbury,  Northside  and  Nor- 
wich, 300  Anspach,  and  500  Hessian  Yagers  ;  Col.  Wormb's  quar- 
ters are  at  Westbury,  at  Wm.  Titus's  ;  Col.  Prussian's  quarters  at 
Wheatly  ;  at  Hempstead,  4  companies  17th  Light  Dragoons ;  at  Jamaica, 
the  remains  of  Cols.  Penos  and  Knyp-hausen's  regiments,  numbers  un- 
known ;  at  Flushing,  3d  battalion  of  Delancey's  corps,  numbers  unknown. 

N.  B. — From  Norwich  a  southerly  course,  3  miles  to  Jericho,  then 
west  3  miles  to  Westbury,  same  course  3  miles  to  Northside,  then 
northwesterly  3  or  4  miles  to  Herricks,  also  from  Westbury  to  Wheatly 
is  3  miles.  Herricks  is  about  2  miles  from  Judge  Ludlow's,  and  1  mile 
from  the  edge  of  the  Plains. 

Information  by  D.  31.,  an  inhabitant  of  Stamford. 
On  the  1st  Dec,  he  was  at  Huntington  passing  for  an  inhabitant, 
and  passed  within  4  rods  of  the  front  of  the  Fort  which  faces  the  north. 
It  is  about  5  rods  in  front  with  a  gate  in  the  middle,  it  extends  a  con- 
siderable distance  north  and  south  :  the  works  were  altogether  of  earth, 
about  six  foot  high,  n»  pickets  or  any  other  obstruction  to  the  works, 
except  a  sort  of  ditch,  which  was  very  inconsiderable,  some  brushlike 
small  trees  fixed  on  the  top  of  the  works,  in  a  perpendicular  form  ;  he 
was  told  it  encompassed  near  2  acres  of  ground.     It  is  built  on  a  rising 


264  APPENDIX. 

ground,  and  takes  in  the  burying-ground :  the  Meeting-house  they  have 
pulled  down.  The  troops  consist  of  Thompson's  regiment,  the  remains 
of  the  Queen's  Rangers  and  the  Legion,  being  550  effective;  they  are 
quartered  as  compact  as  possible  in  the  inhabitants'  houses  and  barns, 
and  some  hutted  along  the  sides  of  the  Fort,  M'hich  makes  one  side  of 
the  hut.  The  inhabitants  of  Huntington  do  suffer  exceedingly  from  the 
treatment  they  receive  from  the  troops,  who  say  the  inhabitants  of  that 
County  are  all  Rebels,  and  therefore  they  care  not  how  they  suffer. 
Dec.  Sth,  1782. 

When  Washington  was  President,  he  made  an  excursion  on  L.  I., 
passing  up  the  south  side  as  far  as  Patchogue  ;  thence  crossing  over  to 
Smithtown,  he  returned  through  Oyster  Bay,  Hempstead  Harbor  and 
Flushing.  He  was  attended  by  his  suite  of  officers,  and  rode  in  a  coach 
drawn  by  four  grays,  with  outriders.  The  old  people  tell  many  pleas- 
ant anecdotes  of  him.  He  dined  at  Z.  Ketcham's,  Huntington  South, 
and  begged  the  landlord  to  take  no  trouble  about  the  fare,  and  on  leav- 
ing gave  a  half  Joe  and  a  kiss  to  his  daughter.  As  the  people  collected 
around  the  Inn  and  were  desirous  to  have  a  sight  of  him,  he  good  na- 
turedly  took  two  or  three  turns  on  the  stoop  with  his  hat  off",  and  then 
went  in,  Jonah  Willets,  an  eccentric  Quaker,  was  ploughing  with  seve- 
ral teams  of  oxen,  and  when  Washington  stopped  to  look  at  him,  one  of 
the  officers  told  Jonah  that  was  General  Washington.  "  George  Wash- 
ington, eh,"  says  Jonah,  "who  hoy,  gee  up,"  and  on  he  went.  At 
Patchogue,  he  called  at  a  little  shop  (there  being  no  hotel)  for  oysters 
and  bread  and  butter.  At  Capt.  Daniel  Youngs',  at  the  cove,  Oyster 
Bay,  where  he  took  tea,  he  called  for  a  bowl  of  milk,  and  begged  them 
to  take  no  trouble.  As  he  passed  some  people  "  working  on  the  road," 
according  to  custom,  they  levied  a  contribution  on  him,  which  he  cheer- 
fully paid.  He  breakfasted  at  Hcndrick  Ondcrdonk's,  Hempstead 
Harbor,  and  visited  his  paper  mill,  being  the  oldest  in  the  State. 


INDEX 


Atlee,  Col  ,  808,  812. 
Allen,  Ethan,  C32,  «40. 
Althouse,  John,  925. 
Antill,  John,  702. 
Axtell,  Win.,  796. 
Ayres,  Major,  729,  750. 
Bache  The.,  834,  845. 
Baircl,  Sir  Jas.,  599. 
Bailoy,  Dr.  R.,  599. 
Baker,  Jona.,  580. 
Baley,  John,  C99. 
Bainbridge,  A.,  853. 
Beeknian,  Jas  ,  G07. 

Bell, ,  G31. 

Benjamin,  John,  666. 
Benson,  Cape,  855. 
Bennet,  Tunis,  949. 
Bergen,  Michael,  895. 
Bergen,  S  ,838. 
Bishop,  p:zekiel,  633. 
Blaisly,  Dan'l,  G95. 

Blydenburgh, ,  650,  712. 

Boerum,  Isaac,  805. 

Bogart,  Peter,  900. 

Booihe,  Win.,  720. 

Bovven,  Jer.,  648. 

Box,  Major,  817. 

Brewerton,  Col    G.,  245,  785. 

Brown,  John,  626,  690. 

Brewster,  Caleb,  585,  621,  720. 

Brower.  Sani'l,  932. 

Brush,  Eliph.,  623. 

Brush,  Jesse,  719. 

Brush,  John,  620,  625. 

Brush,  Thos  ,  622. 

Buell.  Sani'l,  600. 


Burret,  Lt.,  645. 
Cameron,  Chas  ,  653. 
Carll,  Piatt,  681,  765. 
Case,  Widow,  683. 
Chamier,  Dan'l,  614. 

Chester, ,  657. 

Chichester,  Widow,  667. 
Chew,  Jos,  631,  660. 
Chrystie,  James,  614. 
Clark,  John,  628. 
Clark,  Wm.,  580,  653,764. 

Clarkson, ,835. 

Cochran,  Chas.,  680. 

Coffin, ,  667. 

Collins,  Dan'l,  606. 
Conklin,  Eben.,  739. 
Conklin,  Henry,  753. 
Conklin,  Jes.«e,  703. 
Conklin,  Piatt,  ,538. 
Cornell,  Jacobus,  851. 
Cornell,  .Tohn,  888. 
Cornell,  Lt.  Col.  Ezekiel,  817. 
Cortelyou,  S.  &.  J.,  867. 
Covenhoven,  Rem,  837. 
Crewe,  Richard,  599. 
Cunningham,  Wm.,  607. 
Cuyler,  Ab'm,  722. 
Dayton,  Eben.,  600,  675. 
Davis,  Major,  747,  769. 
Davis,  Solomon,  704,  767. 
Deane,  Richard,  702. 
Debevoice.  John,  9l0. 
Delancey,  0,599,602. 
Denyse,  Denyse,  787,  803,  887. 
Depeyster,  Fred., 834. 
Dering,  Thos,,  640,  647. 


266 


INDEX. 


Dickie, ,  894. 

Ditmars,  John,  959. 
Domini,  Nath'l,  682. 
Drake,  Eben.,  684. 
Drawyer,  John,  928. 

Dunbar, ,  643. 

Duryea  Cor.,  885. 

Dunscomb, ,  805. 

Duryea,  Geo    &  Peter,  876. 
Elderkin,  Capt.,  679,  718. 
Ely,  Col.,  638. 
Erskine,  Sir  Wm.,  601,  682. 
Fairbank,  Phineas,  648. 
Fanning,  Col  ,  832. 
Fanning,  Gilbert,  707.  * 
Fanning,  Thos.,  619,  660. 
Field,  John,  606. 
Fitch,  Capt.,  726. 
Flahaven,  John,  845. 
Fleet,  Gilbert  &  Simon,  734. 
Floyd,  Benj  ,  674,  7U4. 
Floyd,  Rich.,  619. 
Floyd,  Wm.,  621,707. 
Foley,  Rev.,  871. 
Foster,  John,  537. 
Foster  Peter,  684. 
Fountain,  Steph.,  580. 
French,  Lt.,  618. 
Gardiner,  Ab'm,  603. 
Gardiner,  David,  6^3,  736. 
Galbrcath,  Capt.,  864. 
Glover,  Elias.  700. 
Glover,  Grover,  648. 
(ilover,  Sam'l,  617. 
Goldsmith,  Wilmot,  644. 
Gray,  Eben.,  667. 
Greene,  Jos.,  618,  638. 
Greene,  Oba.  &  John,  686. 
Grifren,P.,  644.  648,  659. 
Grenell,  John,  545,  740,  747. 
Gyer,  N.  &  L.,  580. 
Hale,  Capt.  N.,  607, 
llallock,  George,  657. 
Hand.  Col.,  796,814,827. 
Hart,  Capt.,  638. 
Hart,  Isaac,  720. 
Hart,  Rev.  .loshiia,  632. 
Harper,  Robt.,  597. 

Harrison, ,  603. 

Harrison,  John,  956. 
Haslet,  Col.,  809. 


Havens,  Benj.,  688. 

Havens,  Jos.,  736. 

Havens,  NicoU,  736. 

Hawley,  David,  633. 

Hawley,  Henry,  761. 

Heacock,  Sam'l,  741. 

Hedges,  Deacon,  751. 

Hegeman,  Adrian,  886. 

Hegeman,  Elbert,  842. 

Hegeman,  Rem,  834. 

Hewlett,  John,  614. 

Helme,  Thos.,  548. 

Hempstead,  Robt.,  540,600. 

Hempstead,  Steph.,  607. 

Hewlett,  Rich.,  Col., 634, 638,  642. 

Hicks,  Whithead,  599. 

Hill,  John,  714,  928. 

Hinchman,  Robert.  599. 

Hind  ford,  Wm.,  652. 

Hubart,  J.  S.,  597. 

Holliday,  John.  579. 

Holmes,  Dr.  Silas,  599,  833. 

L'Hommedieu,  Ez.,537. 

Houston,  Jas.,  7(i3. 

Howard,  W^m  ,  599,  805. 

Howell,  David,  671. 

Hoogiand,  Jeromus,  805. 

Hubbard,  Sam'l,  799. 

Hudson,  Fred'k,  619. 

Hulbert,  John,  546,  535,  640. 

Hulst,  John,  877. 

Humphreys,  Major,  645. 

Humphreys,  Walter,  749. 

Huntington,  Col.,  8'2l. 

Hylei,  Adam,  895,  900,  925. 

Jarvis,  Moses,  741. 

Jackson,  N.  P.,  745. 

Jackson,  Thos.,  720. 

Jayne,  W^m.,  712. 

Johnson,  Parent,  961. 

Johnson,  B.  J.,  618. 

Johnson,  Col   Philip,  814,  823. 

Johnson,  Hend'k,  916. 

Jones,  Gilbert,  579. 

Jones,  Oba  ,  603,  640. 

Kelsey,  Steph.,  5G2,  689. 

Kendal,  Capt.,  636. 

Kemble,  Steph.,  634. 

Ketcimm,  Carll,  622. 

Ketchani,  Isaac,  544,  603,  606. 

Kctcham,  Jos  ,  702. 


IXDEX. 


267 


Kichline,  Col.,  821. 
Landon,  David,  671. 
Langdon,  Mark,  650. 
Lamberson,  D.,  599. 
Lasher,  Col.,  821. 
Lawrence,  Major,  596. 
Lawrence,  Wm.,  740. 
Lay.  Lt.,  645. 
Lefferts,  Leffert,  771,  942. 
Lee,  Gen.,  774. 
Legget,  Ab'm,  719. 
Lewis,  Jos.,  652. 
Livingston,  H.  B.,  600,  608. 
Lott,  Ab'm  E.,  772. 
Lott,  Joh.  E  ,  950. 
Lott,  Jeromus,  914,  962. 
Lott,  Maurice,  940. 
Loosely  &  Elms,  884,  938. 
Lownsbury,  Wm.,  741. 
Ludlam,  Wm.,  607. 
Luquer,  Ab'm   882,  964. 
Lynch,  Maj.  John, 849. 
Lyon,  Rev.  Jas.,  543. 

Lyon, ,  667. 

Mclntire, ,  656. 

Magaw,  Col.,&35. 
Marks,  Capt ,  750. 
Martense,Geo.,  845. 
Martin,  Col.,  796. 
Martin,  Jas.  S.,  820. 
Marrener,  Wm.,  844,  846,  894. 
Matthews,  Mayor,  785. 
Meigs,  Col,  631,  638. 
Mifflin,  Gen.,  827. 
Miles,  Col.,  814,  835. 
Miller,  Burnet,  533. 
Miller,  Henry,  827. 
Miller,  Richard,  610. 
Ming,  Thos.,  653. 
Moncriefie,  Major,  845. 
Morris,  Capt.  David, 897. 
Morris,  Gov,  599. 
Morrison,  John,  612,613. 
Mowat,  Jacob,  852. 
Muirson,  Heathcot,  720. 
Munro,  David,  727. 
Murray,  Lindiey,  656. 
Neefus,  Peter,  9C3. 
Nicoll,  Wm  ,  647,  656,  684. 
Norton,  Nath'l,  766,  769. 
Olney,  Stephen,  817. 


Popham,  Major,  818. 

Parks,  Thos.,  744. 

Parsons,  Gen.,  631,  634,  63S. 

Peck,  Jos.,  736. 

Pierrepont,  Capt.,  725. 

Philips,  Wm.,707,  712. 
j  Philips,  Sam'l,  681. 
I  Piatt,  Dr.  Z.,  606,  625,  637. 
I  Piatt,  Nath'l,  585,  681. 
I  Place,  Thos.,  635. 

Polhemus,  Th.,  792. 

Pond,  Capt.,  607. 
I  Potter,  Gilbert,  558,  590. 
I  Punderson,  E.,  612,  654,  712. 
'  Rankin,  Jas,  908. 

Rapalje,D  ,840. 

Rapalje,  John,  653,  802. 

Rapalje,  Stephen,  836. 

Raymond,  Stent.  679. 

Reeve,  Isaac,  577,666. 

Remsen,  Jer.,  771. 

Reed,  Jos.,  804. 

Remsen,  Rem  H  ,  943,961. 

Rhinelander,  Fred  ,  776. 

Richmond,  Col.,  621. 

Rider,  Valentine,  727. 

Riker,  Ab'm,  596. 

Robertson, ,  658. 

Rodsers,  Capt.,  606. 

Roe,'Dan'l,  610,  621. 
.  Roe,  Philip,  656,  733. 
\  Rogers,  Zophar,  709. 
j  Rubell,  J.  C,  835,845. 

Rutgers,  Harmanus,  796. 

Ryerson,  John,  913. 

Sawyer,  Moses,  647. 

Sayre,  Rev.  Jas.,  843,  874. 
I  Scribner,  Benj  ,  579. 
I  Scott,  David,  934. 
'  Schenck,  Lt.  John,  844. 

Schenck,  Martin,  8G8. 

Schenck,  Nicholas,  900. 
1  Seaman,  Maurice.  688,  692. 
'  Seaman,  Wm.,  676. 

Seton,  Andrew,  704. 

Shaw,  Lemuel,  760. 

Shaw,  Nath'l,  660. 

Sherbrook,  Miles,  845. 
Simmons,  Capt  ,  644. 
Simms,J.  R.  607. 
Simms.  John  C,  614. 


268 


INDEX. 


Simcoe,  Lt.  Col,  711. 
Siudiiiore,  Sam'l,  374  606. 
Skudcler,  Henry,  743. 
Smallwood,  Col.,  811. 
Smith,  Dan'l,  535. 
Smith,  Geo.,  610,  674. 
Smith,  .Teffrey,  555,  590,  600. 
Smiih,  Isaac,  674,  699,  757. 
Smith,  Jcsiah,  586,598,  63-3. 
Smith,  .lacob,  610,  616,  621. 
Smith,  Jas  ,  657. 
Smith,  Shubael,652. 
Smith,  Sol.,  627. 
Smith,  Wm.,  532,  555,  563. 
Stanton,  Henry,  960. 
Stevens,  Capt.,  851. 
Stewart,  .John,  703. 
Stirling,  Lord,  779,  808. 

Stone, ,  652. 

Striker,  Garret,  870. 
Strong,  Benajah,  600,  688,  720. 
Strong,  Selah,  541,641,  760. 
Storer,  Capt.,  9.33. 
Sullivan,  Gen.,  796,  807. 
Suydam,  Jacob,  834. 
Suydam,  Lamb't,  961. 
Tallmadge,  Benj.,  720,743. 
Thomas,  Chas  ,  6.33. 
Thompson,  Isaac,  565. 
Thorne,  Thos  ,  596. 
Tilloison,  Nicholas,  681. 
Titus,  Benj  ,  639. 
Toby,  Sam'l  653. 
Townsend,  James,  597. 
Towiisend,  Robert,  607. 
Treadwell,  Thos.,  541,  681. 
Trescott,  Major,  743. 
Troop,  Capt.,  631. 
Troup,  Robert,  599. 
Tryon,  Wm.,620,(;6l. 
Tuthill,  Rufus,  629. 
'J'urnbull,  Lt.  Col  ,  862. 
Underhill,  Amos,  653. 


Vail,  .Tohn,  736. 

Vail,  Jona.,  659. 

Vail,  Peter,  753. 

Van  Alslyne,  P.,  722. 

Van  Brunt,  R.,  783;  846,916. 

A^an  Buskirk,  Lawrence,  872. 

Van  Buren, ,  869,908. 

Van  Cortland,  Aug.,  845. 
Van  Cott,  Wm.,  823. 
Vanderbilt,  Jer.,  796. 
Vanderpool,  J.  722. 
Vandevoort,  P.,  794. 

Van  Dyke, ,  780. 

Van  Dyck,  Rev.  H  .  677. 
Van  Pelt,  Rem,  846. 
Van  Ranst,  Ab'm,  770,  800. 
Van  Sinderin,  U..  835. 
Van  Wyck,  Cor.,  596. 
Vonck,  Joseph,  963. 
Waldron,  Adolph,  773,  779. 
Wattles,  Capt.,  744. 
Ward,  Col.,  777,801,811. 
Warne,  Wm.,  599,  603. 
Webb,  Col   S.  B.,  638. 
Webb,  James,  606. 

W^eser, ,  658. 

Wickham,  Thomas,  758. 
Wicks,  Thomas,  544,  623. 
Wilkinson,  John,  753. 
Williams,  Nath'l,  544,  652,  689. 
Winslow,  Pelham,  953. 
Witherspoon,  Peter,  848. 
Wood,  Israel,  534,  603,  689. 
Wooden,  Sol.,  607. 
WoodhuU,  Nathan,  732. 
Woodhull,  Nath'l,  590,  599. 
Wood  hull,  Stephen,  681. 
Wright,  Oba.,  628,  643. 
Wykoff,  Jacob,  847. 
Youngs,  Dan'l,  634. 
Youngs,  J.,  660. 
Youngs,  Israel,  544. 


